NT artist Clinton Gaykamangu jailed for 1993 assault
After forging a successful career across art, administration and welfare support, a respected elder has been jailed for a horrific assault committed in 1993. Read how his DNA profile brought the investigation back to life.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A respected elder and youth worker has been jailed for a sexually motivated assault committed more than 30 years ago in Darwin.
Clinton Gaykamangu, now 54, was sentenced this month after a jury found him guilty of unlawful assault with the intention to have carnal knowledge.
The offence was committed in 1993.
The court heard that on October 29, 1993, the victim had been drinking at a Darwin nightclub with a friend when she left at about 4am.
Gaykamangu and another man offered a lift to the victim, who fell asleep in the backseat.
The victim was driven along a dirt road near Lake Alexander to a secluded location, where she woke up to Gaykamangu having sexual intercourse with her while the other man was holding her.
After pushing Gaykamangu off, the victim managed to escape.
Despite the victim undergoing a medical examination and reporting the incident within hours of the ordeal, authorities were unable to identify the perpetrators, with Gaykamangu having seemingly slipped through the cracks.
Until three decades later.
For unrelated reasons, police obtained Gaykamangu’s DNA profile in 2022 which matched a swab taken from the victim in 1993, prompting authorities to revisit the original investigation.
Gaykamangu maintained his innocence and the matter went to trial at the NT Supreme Court in June 2025, with the jury finding Gaykamangu guilty after hearing evidence from the victim herself.
Raised in Milingimbi, Gaykamangu completed his schooling in Darwin before returning to his home country to discharge his cultural obligations before returning to the capital.
The court heard Gaykamangu was a husband, grandfather and working man, having held various jobs in the Northern Territory.
Previously, Gaykamangu worked as a welfare officer, an administration officer and was also a manager with the Traditional Credit Union.
He also worked with troubled youth, delivering programs to incarcerated children at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre.
The court also heard Gaykamangu had enjoyed commercial success as an artist.
Gaykamangu’s victim however, experienced a different path.
Chief Justice Michael Grant said the incident had a “devastating impact on the victim”.
“She says that as a result of this rape as a young woman she became anxious and depressed and had difficulties forming relationships,” he said.
“She became easily irritated, hypervigilant, frustrated and unempathetic to the misfortunes of others.
“She says she has experienced lingering feelings of injustice because of the failure to bring perpetrators to account.”
The court heard the victim requires counselling and has been diagnosed with anxiety and traumatic stress.
Gaykamangu was sentenced to five years imprisonment backdated to June 5, 2025.
The sentence will be suspended after two years are served.
More Coverage
Originally published as NT artist Clinton Gaykamangu jailed for 1993 assault
Alice hospital code yellow: ‘Capacity challenges’
A code yellow has been called in Alice Springs hospital – a little over a week after Top End hospitals were under the same directive. Read what we know.
NAMED: Alleged machete man fronts court, maintains innocence
“They’re working against me, all these people”. A man accused of assaulting an elderly man with a machete in Palmerston will be making a move for bail. Details.