NT Judge orders $7k flight, no electronic monitoring for teen who allegedly breached bail in Top End

The Supreme Court judge who bailed a teenager charged with assaulting a baby in Alice Springs ordered him a $7k flight to a Top End community without a monitoring device, it can be revealed.

Supreme Court of the Northern Territory building in Alice Springs. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A teenager on bail for a serious assault on a mother and baby was granted a $7k inter-Territory chartered flight, and not subjected to electronic monitoring before he made a dash for freedom.

This masthead can reveal the orders Supreme Court Justice Meredith Day Huntingford handed down when she on Monday approved bail for a 16-year-old boy charged with the alleged home invasion and assault of a mother and baby in Alice Springs last year.

The bailed teenager was taken by chartered aircraft to a remote community to attend a funeral, where he on Wednesday allegedly breached his bail by going on the run for almost 24 hours.

He was recaptured on Thursday.

Alice Springs Supreme Court Justice Meredith Day Huntingford. Picture: Supplied

It can be revealed that as part of the seven bail conditions imposed, there was no requirement for the teenager to be fitted with an electronic monitoring device.

The teen allegedly fled despite being subject to “strict bail conditions”, and was under the care of the Department of Children and Families (DCF), NT Police said on Thursday.

Within the bail conditions, Justice Huntingford ordered the teen take a chartered flight from Darwin to the Katherine region on Wednesday.

It is understood this flight cost taxpayers about $7000.

While in the community, Justice Huntingford ordered the teenager “must not be out of eye sight” of three people.

Police have alleged while in the community the Department of Children and Families staff transported the teen to a residence to “collect personal items”.

Justice Huntingford also ordered the teenager was to “only participate in funeral activities” while in the small town.

Justice Huntingford in her bail variation planned for the teenager to leave the community at 3pm Wednesday and return to the Darwin before he went “immediately” back correctional centre at Holtze” and “surrender himself to remand”.

NT Police found the teenager on Thursday and have since charged him with one count of breach of bail.

On Friday, NT police said the teen was now back on remand.

He will return to court on February 27.

The charter aircraft returned to Darwin on Wednesday. Photo: Dallas Presser/ Jet Photos

Prior to being bailed on Monday, the teenager was on remand after he was arrested in December 2024 in connection to a home invasion in Larapinta, Alice Springs.

During the home invasion, two-month-old Antonia Siguenza had her skull fractured.

She was flown with her mother to Adelaide for treatment.

The teenager was charged with aggravated assault, unlawfully causing serious harm, theft, aggravated robbery, and aggravated burglary.

It was later revealed the teenager had been bailed 25 times previously and charged with more than 250 offences prior to his arrest for the home invasion.

This masthead sent questions to Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and the Department of Children and Families asking if the teen was subject to ankle monitoring within the community, and how much the charter flight cost.

A Department of Children and Families spokesperson said “investigations are ongoing into the circumstances that lead to the young person absconding from custody”.

“The Supreme Court ordered the young person be permitted to attend [the funeral], the means of travel, and that our staff accompany them,” the spokesperson said.

“This meant we had to take all steps necessary to facilitate compliance with the order.”

A CLP Government spokesperson said investigations were ongoing.

Originally published as NT Judge orders $7k flight, no electronic monitoring for teen who allegedly breached bail in Top End