John Mayatjun’s history of ‘domestic violence’ heard in Kumanjaya Dhamarrandji murder trial
John Mayatjun’s alleged domestic violence was first reported to police in 1999. More than two decades later, his partner was found brutally beaten to death.
Northern Territory
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A man charged with brutally killing his partner in August 2021 was released from prison for a domestic violence assault against her less than a month prior, his trial has heard.
John Mayatjun, 52, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Kumanjaya Dhamarrandji in August 2021 at a unit in Litchfield Court, Coconut Grove.
As his three-week Supreme Court trial began on Tuesday, the jury heard of nine allegations of domestic violence perpetrated by Mayatjun that were reported to police.
“Mr Mayatjun had a violent disposition to Kumanjaya Dhamarrandji and a preparedness to act on that, as well as the tendency to engage in violent behaviour to her and to behave in a controlling and threatening way to her,” Crown prosecutor Victoria Engel said.
In the first incident in 1999 he allegedly cut Ms Dhamarrandji in the neck and arm with a pocket knife, sending her to hospital, Ms Engel said.
In February 2001 he admitted to punching and kicking her in the head, and a Domestic Violence Order was made against him.
Four months later Mayatjun allegedly fractured her tibia by striking her with an axe, Ms Engel told the jury.
The last reported incident was in May 2021 when Mayatjun struck Ms Dhamarrandji three times in the face.
He was sent to prison for the assault, another DVO was put in place and Ms Dhamarrandji told police she wanted to end the relationship, the court heard.
But after his release on August 3, 2021, the couple reconnected and were long grassing together around Darwin.
They were last captured on CCTV together in Nightcliff on the morning of August 26, 2021, as Mayatjun pushed Ms Dhamarrandji in a wheelchair she was using because of a broken leg, Ms Engel said.
She was last seen alive that afternoon in the vicinity of Litchfield Court, arguing with Mayatjun, the court heard.
Among the dozens of witnesses expected to testify, Ms Engel told the jury they could expect to hear from a neighbour who that night heard a husky voice saying “I’ll kill you”, and another who heard banging and arguing from the unit where Ms Dhamarrandji’s body was found just before 8pm on August 27, 2021.
Defence lawyer Jack Pappas told the court the Crown’s case was “circumstantial” and Mayatjun “didn’t do it”.
The jury heard Darwin’s hot weather made it difficult to pinpoint the exact time Ms Dhamarrandji was killed, with forensic pathologists finding only that she died some time on August 27 or late August 26.
The trial continues this week.
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Originally published as John Mayatjun’s history of ‘domestic violence’ heard in Kumanjaya Dhamarrandji murder trial
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