Judge Therese Austin demands earlier dates for committal hearing in Kingsley Alley Jr murder case

A Darwin judge has let loose at lawyers for trying to set committal hearing dates almost a year in the future to examine witnesses over the alleged murder of a young Palmerston father.

NT Local Court judge Therese Austin told lawyers they would have to make time this year for a two day cross-examination of witnesses. Picture: Supplied/NT Courts

A judge presiding over the case of Kingsley Alley Jr’s alleged murder has pulled up a group of lawyers for trying to set committal hearing dates almost a year in the future, warning it could prejudice crucial testimony.

The body of 18-year-old Mr Alley was found beaten and bloodied on a Palmerston driveway in October last year.

Four people were charged with murder in the days following – Madison Butler, 18, her mother Melissa Jane Clancy, 37, Dechlan Wurramarra, 21, and a teen who was 17 at the time and cannot be named.

Madison Butler, Butler’s mother Melissa Jane Clancy, Dechlan Wurramarra, and a 17-year-old boy (not pictured) were all charged with murder after Kingsley Alley Jr’s body was found beaten on a Palmerston driveway on October 8.

During a hearing for Butler’s case on May 31, Judge Therese Austin told prosecutor Steven Ledek and defence lawyers Jacob Henderson and Clancy Dane the dates set aside in mid-March were a “really ridiculously long time away”.

It will be the first time seven witnesses are questioned in court, determining whether there is enough evidence for the case to progress to the Supreme Court.

“Do I need to say the word, this is a murder charge – murder,” Ms Austin said.

“I believe the dates in March are really prejudicial to your client, Mr Henderson.

“March is a really ridiculously long time away to be cross-examining these young people.”

Butler has engaged a top interstate silk Scott Henchcliffe KC to cross examine the witnesses.

Ms Austin told the lawyers they would have to make themselves available on October 23 and 24.

“I’m going to give you dates this year,” she said.

“It needs to be suitable, I will not have it just being knocked back.”

Mr Dane, who is representing the unnamed 17-year-old, said he was happy with the change.

“We will take any dates this year given we have a youth in adult prison waiting for this,” he said.

18-year-old Kingsley 'Junior' Alley holding his newborn daughter Eleanor, with step-mum Kylie Simmonds.

Mr Alley’s family have previously spoken of their frustration at delays in the matter proceeding through Darwin’s overburdened courts.

“As the family we just want this to move along as quickly as possible … it’s very overwhelming,” Mr Alley’s sister Josephine Miller-Sabino told this publication in March.

Mr Alley had welcomed a baby girl less than eight weeks before his death.

It is alleged he was attacked between midnight and 6.30am outside a vacant home near the corner of Waterhouse Cr and Driver Ave, Palmerston.

Originally published as Judge Therese Austin demands earlier dates for committal hearing in Kingsley Alley Jr murder case