Joshua James Green West allegedly attacked Palmerston bus driver

A young man in the grips of a psychotic episode allegedly attacked a driver and caused a Top End bus to come to a screeching halt on the highway, a court has heard.

Joshua James Green West appeared in Darwin Local Court on Thursday, three days after he allegedly assaulted the driver of a public bus on the Stuart Highway, near Pinelands.

A young man in the grips of a psychotic episode allegedly attacked a driver and caused a Top End bus to come to a screeching halt on the highway, a court has heard.

Joshua James Green West appeared in Darwin Local Court on Thursday, three days after he allegedly assaulted the driver of a public bus on the Stuart Highway, near Pinelands.

The court heard the 21-year-old had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was potentially not in control of his actions when he allegedly attacked the driver on Monday.

It was alleged the young man climbed over the barrier inside the bus and repeatedly kicked the driver to the head.

The driver was able to bring the bus to a “sharp halt” before he was taken to hospital.

Mr Green West was arrested and charged with recklessly endangering serious harm and assaulting a worker.

However on Thursday the court heard harsher charges were being considered due to the severity of injuries, with prosecutors prepared to take the case to the Supreme Court.

It was alleged the young man climbed over the barrier inside the bus and repeatedly kicked the driver to the head. Pictures: Supplied/Luke Weller

“They also would like to investigate further charges due to the harm caused to the passenger who was flung through the bus when the driver had to break during the assault,” the prosecutor said.

However Mr Green West’s lawyer told the court the accused needed to be assessed by a mental health officer, calling for a report to see if he should be involuntarily detained in hospital rather than in prison.

Under the NT criminal code a person can be found not guilty if it is determined they were suffering from a mental illness and as a result did not know what they were doing, that it was wrong or were unable to control their actions.

Indeed Judge Ben O’Loughlin said Mr Green West was being evaluated for his fitness to plead on four other matters, including a previous aggravated assault and damage to property charges.

Mr Green West was remanded in custody and will return to the mental health court on October 10, with a preliminary examination mention date set for October 31.

Originally published as Joshua James Green West allegedly attacked Palmerston bus driver