Jake Fenner charged with murder of father, 71, faces court for the first time

Jake Fenner, 29, has appeared in the dock charged with the 71-year-old’s murder after he was found unresponsive in a swimming pool at his Moil home.

Jake Joshua Fenner, 29, did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody until January 10.

A man charged with the alleged domestic violence slaying of his father in Moil at the weekend has faced court for the first time.

Jake Joshua Fenner, 29, appeared in the dock of the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday charged with the 71-year-old’s murder after he was found unresponsive in a swimming pool at his McMillans Rd home on Saturday.

Fenner’s lawyer, Ron Hope, did not apply for bail and requested the case be adjourned for a preliminary examination mention on January 10 next year.

He also stands charged with a string of unrelated driving offences including not stopping after a crash as well as attempting to pervert the course of justice and making a false police report.

Judge Ray Murphy adjourned both files to the same date.

“Both of those matters are now listed for PEM at the Darwin Local Court at 10am on the 10th of January 2024,” he said.

“The defendant is remanded in custody and is excused from attending on that day.”

Son of alleged domestic violence murder victim named

MON, NOV 6

Police have charged a 29-year-old man with his father’s murder after an alleged domestic violence incident in Moil on Saturday.

At about 5pm on Saturday, police received reports that a 71-year-old man was unresponsive in a swimming pool at his McMillans Rd home.

Emergency services attended and the man was declared dead at the scene. His exact cause of death was unknown at the time police arrived.

The son of the deceased, 29-year-old Jake Joshua Fenner, was arrested and a crime scene declared.

Investigations have since deemed the death suspicious and Mr Fenner was charged with one count of murder on Sunday night.

He was remanded in custody and was expected to appear at the Darwin Local Court on Monday, however the case was adjourned to the following day.

His lawyer requested Judge Thomasin Opie rule that Mr Fenner be remanded in custody to appear in person on Tuesday.

“I spoke to Mr Fenner this morning at the Palmerston watch house. I was told by the cells that they had reached their limit and he was unlikely to be brought in,” she said.

“There were family members present at court today that were quite stressed and conveyed to me that at least they’ll have an opportunity to see him in the dock.”

Speaking to the press on Monday morning, Acting Deputy Commissioner Martin Dole could not confirm what injuries the 71-year-old suffered.

“Suffice to say the 29-year-old was arrested at the scene because police attending deemed the death to be suspicious,” he said.

“The matter is still under investigation.”

Originally published as Jake Fenner charged with murder of father, 71, faces court for the first time