Marius Puruntatameri Junior given suspended sentence after pulling knife on security at Airport Tavern

A drunken Darwin man who was asked to leave a Top End pub by security instead pulled a steak knife on the worker. Find out what happened in court.

Darwin Local Court heard 49-year-old Marius Puruntatameri Junior (left) was eating a meal at the Airport Tavern on January 2, 2024, when he pulled a steak knife on security. Picture: Gera Kazakov

A drunken Darwin man who pulled a steak knife on pub security when he was asked to leave midway through his meal has been hauled before a judge.

Darwin Local Court on Tuesday heard 49-year-old Marius Puruntatameri Junior was eating a meal at the Airport Tavern on January 2 this year when he was asked by security to leave.

Instead of complying, Puruntatameri threatened staff and became aggressive.

Local Court generic. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Puruntatameri tried to buy another drink but was refused because of his level of intoxication.

And while he was told he could stay and finish his meal, when security approached him again he armed himself with a steak knife and yelled: “Don’t bother me, don’t bother me”.

The tavern manager was able to discreetly call the police who came and arrested Puruntatameri.

Puruntatameri pleaded guilty before Judge Stephen Geary to failing to leave a licensed premises, going armed in public, disorderly behaviour in a police station, and assault on a worker not suffering harm.

Judge Geary took into account Puruntatameri’s rehabilitation since the offending.

He was handed a one month suspended sentence, but it came with a warning.

“Don’t commit any offence … come back here and you will be put in prison,” Judge Geary told Puruntatameri during sentencing.

Judge Geary noted the considerable grief caused to staff because of Puruntatameri’s actions.

He reminded Puruntatameri that it was against the law for pub staff to serve overly intoxicated patrons.

Originally published as Marius Puruntatameri Junior given suspended sentence after pulling knife on security at Airport Tavern