Joseph Thomas Henry charged with DV offences after alleged Palmerston assault leaves woman in ‘serious’ condition

A woman who was found with critical head injuries was allegedly the victim of multiple assaults and domestic violence order breaches in the month before her partner’s arrest.

Joseph Thomas Henry appeared briefly before Darwin Local Court on Monday charged with two counts of aggravated assault and five counts of breaching a domestic violence order. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

UPDATE 5pm, Monday June 30: A woman who was raced to hospital with critical head injuries was allegedly the victim of multiple assaults and domestic violence order breaches in the month before her partner’s arrest.

Joseph Thomas Henry appeared briefly before Darwin Local Court on Monday charged with two counts of aggravated assault and five counts of breaching a domestic violence order.

NT Police arrested the 57-year-old man on Saturday, after a woman was allegedly found at a Palmerston home suffering from suspected head injuries.

The woman was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital in a critical condition, and by Monday she had improved slightly to a serious but stable condition.

Police alleged Mr Henry was arrested near the Palmerston home after a “short foot pursuit”.

Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the woman’s injuries, and Mr Henry is not facing any assault charges related to the weekend incident.

“The circumstances surrounding this incident are complex, with the ongoing investigation being managed by the Northern Domestic Violence Investigation Unit,” a police spokesman said.

However he was charged with three counts of breaching his domestic violence order between Thursday to Saturday June 28.

Police also charged Mr Henry over two alleged assaults on the same woman from more than a month ago.

It was alleged he attacked her and breached his domestic violence order on Wednesday, May 21, and again assaulted her two days later.

In a brief court appearance before Judge Julie Franz, Mr Henry was remanded in custody until his next hearing on July 28.

UPDATE 3.30pm, Monday June 30: A man, 57, has been charged by the Northern Domestic Violence Investigation Unit following an alleged assault of a woman in Palmerston over the weekend.

Emergency services were called out to a property on Saturday after receiving concerning reports of a seriously ill woman.

She was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital with suspected head injuries and a 57-year-old man was arrested.

The man has since been charged with three counts of Breach Domestic Violence Order in relation to alleged incidents which happened between 26 and 28 of June.

He has also been charged with Aggravated Assault and Breach Domestic Violence Order for an incident that allegedly occurred on 23 May and again for an alleged incident on 21 May.

The man is remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on Monday.

NT Police earlier said the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident over the weekend are “complex” and said investigations remain ongoing.

The woman is still in hospital with police saying she is in a “serious but stable condition”.

They added that investigations looking into the cause of her injuries are ongoing.

If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to domestic violence, support services are available.

These are including, but not limited to 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or Lifeline on 131 114.

INITIAL Sunday, 3.30pm: A woman has been left in a “critical condition” after an alleged assault in a Palmerston home on Saturday.

After the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of a woman who was “seriously ill”, NT Police and St John Ambulance attended the Palmerston address.

The woman was taken by paramedics to Royal Darwin Hospital with suspected head injuries.

After a short chase on foot near the property, police officers arrested a 57-year-old man.

No charges have been laid.

The Northern Domestic Violence Investigation Unit has now launched an investigation into the alleged incident.

However, police said the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident are “complex” and they have asked anyone who may have relevant information to contact them on 131 444 and referencing NTP2500065811

Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the website.

Originally published as Joseph Thomas Henry charged with DV offences after alleged Palmerston assault leaves woman in ‘serious’ condition