Two young teenagers allegedly involved in violent Palmerston home invasion appear before NT youth court

Two teenage boys who allegedly broke into a 71-year-old man’s home and violently assaulted him before escaping in a stolen car have appeared in the NT Youth Court.

On Thursday Youth Court judge Therese Austin was told that the young teenager — who cannot be named for legal reasons — may need to be treated as an involuntary patient in a mental health facility, rather than as a detainee in Holtze Youth Detention Centre.

A 14-year-old boy who allegedly brutally assaulted a 71-year-old Palmerston man in his own home has been sent for a mental health assessment after claiming he is ‘hearing voices’.

On Thursday, Youth Court judge Therese Austin was told the teenager — who cannot legally be named due to his age — may need to be treated as an involuntary patient in a mental health facility, rather than as a detainee in Holtze Youth Detention Centre.

NT Police have alleged the 14-year-old and another 13-year-old boy broke into a home on Star Court in Woodroffe in the early hours of Wednesday, with neighbours waking to the sounds of items being smashed at 7am.

It is alleged the pair assaulted the 71-year-old resident with an edged weapon before driving off in his Ford Territory station wagon.

NT Police said both boys were arrested in a Moulden home, and were charged with aggravated robbery, burglary, intending to cause serious harm and driving a stolen vehicle.

Prosecutor Grammeni Alakiotis said a breach of bail charge had been added to the 14-year-old’s latest file, with Ms Austin confirming there were other active cases before the courts.

Defence lawyer Lauren Creevey said sought for the boy to be assessed under the Mental Health and Related Services Act, which could see him admitted to a mental health facility.

“He’s been experiencing some voices,” Ms Creevey said.

Ms Creevey did not make an application for bail, with the boy to return to court on May 28 for a preliminary examination mention.

Ms Austin heard the co-accused 13-year-old boy had never been before the courts, let alone faced a stint in a cell.

His lawyer said given the boy’s age he would be seeking a ‘doli incapax’ hearing, meaning the prosecution would have to prove the child understood the wrongfulness of his alleged actions.

No bid for bail was made on Thursday, but his lawyer asked for the boy to be assessed for both the First Step program and bail in preparation for any future application.

Ms Austin heard the boy was involved in a diversion program over some property crime in December, however he was deemed “unsuccessful” in the program just two and a half weeks before the alleged violent home invasion.

Ms Austin listed the matter for a bail hearing on Friday, April 11, but flagged the prosecution was “opposing any consideration of bail, in any circumstance”.

Originally published as Two young teenagers allegedly involved in violent Palmerston home invasion appear before NT youth court