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Turner man Keegan Dempsey granted bail after being charged with two assaults

A dog daycare worker has been bullied in custody following his arrest for two alleged assaults, a court heard, including one where he allegedly struck a man with “knuckle dusters”.

Keegan Dempsey leaving the ACT Magistrates Court with a supporter after being granted bail on Thursday.
Keegan Dempsey leaving the ACT Magistrates Court with a supporter after being granted bail on Thursday.

A Turner dog kennel employee has been bullied while on remand in Canberra’s prison after being charged with two alleged assaults, a court heard.

ACT Magistrates Court heard on Thursday that Keegan Dempsey, 26, was “not built for jail” after suffering several attacks at the Alexander Maconochie Centre after his arrest on two counts of assault and possessing an offensive weapon with intent.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Court documents say Dempsey came into the crosshairs of police following an alleged brutal attack at Ainslie Village in Campbell on October 26, 2023.

Police allege the Turner man got into an argument with a passerby after pushing a scooter over before he punched, wrested and chased him with a stick.

Court documents state the alleged victim suffered injuries including a split left cheek on the inside of his mouth and grazes to his fingers.

Keegan Dempsey leaving court.
Keegan Dempsey leaving court.

Dempsey also sustained a split head from the alleged fight and was taken to North Canberra Hospital.

The 26-year-old was arrested by police again for another alleged assault which took place at his unit complex in Turner on January 19.

Police allege Dempsey got into an argument with another man when he approached them in an “aggressive manner”. Court documents state the alleged victim then struck Dempsey in self defence.

Court documents state a fight broke out in their shared corridor where it’s alleged the victim suffered a small, deep puncture to his hand and a deep wound to his thumb.

Police were called with the alleged victim claiming Dempsey used “knuckle dusters” but it was actually an “s hook”, commonly used to hang up items, according to court documents.

Dempsey was granted bail on Thursday.
Dempsey was granted bail on Thursday.

The man further alleged Dempsey bit him on the hand which caused his injury.

Court documents state Dempsey admitted to the alleged bite and other allegations but said it was in self defence.

Police allege the Turner man tried to flee out of the window when he was told he was being arrested.

In court, defence lawyer Brandon Bodel pushed for Dempsey to be granted bail citing the hardship he suffered while inside at Canberra’s jail.

Mr Bodel said the dog kennel worker, who had a limited criminal history, was the target of attacks by inmates who also his stole food and Nicotine patches.

“He’s not built for prison your honour,” Mr Bodel said.

The court heard there was “more to this story” in relation to the facts with Dempsey alleging he was the person initially punched in the January charges.

Prosecutor Estelle Narouz alleged the strikes in both incidents were “serious” with one charge having the potential to be upgraded to grievous bodily harm.

Chief magistrate Lorraine Walker granted Dempsey bail, with his matters adjourned to a later date.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/canberra/turner-man-keegan-dempsey-granted-bail-after-being-charged-with-two-assaults/news-story/f8ef5b21c893012a5eb29cdd4cf292cf