Man on trial after allegedly assaulting elderly man during a robbery in Alice Springs

A MAN accused of allegedly punching an elderly man in the face numerous times before stealing from him has faced the first day of his trial in the Supreme Court.

AN ALICE Springs man accused of allegedly punching a 74-year-old man in the face numerous times before stealing from him has faced the first day of his trial in the Supreme Court.

Arthur Abbott, 34, pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated assault.

Crown Prosecutor Sally Ozolins told the jury on October 29, 2019, before the alleged assault Abbott was drinking with a woman at the time, who was a friend to the victim.

“(The victim) will give evidence and I expect that he will tell you that evening at around 5.50pm, he heard shouting and furniture being thrown around the unit next door,” she said.

The court heard there were multiple people in the unit next door and one woman knocked on the victim’s door to tell him to call police.

Public Housing security officers then attended the house before a number of people in the unit next door left.

Soon after, the woman entered the victim’s apartment to ask for cigarettes.

When she went to leave, Abbott, who the court heard had previously left the building upon security’s request, appeared and “tried to force his way into (the victim’s unit)”.

“(The woman) will tell you she tried to push the door closed, but the accused overpowered her and went into the victim’s unit saying words to the effect of ‘I’m going to kill you’,” Ms Ozolins said.

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Ms Ozolins said the crown argues Abbott then entered the victim’s apartment and allegedly punched him three times in the face and demanded beer and money, to which the man said he had none of either.

The jury heard Abbott then stole a packet of tobacco and cigarette papers from the man’s table before leaving the apartment.

Police later found the paraphernalia on Abbott and arrested him.

Ms Ozolins said during the course of the trial the crown expects witness evidence would be given by public housing security officers who will present body-worn footage, the victim and the audio recording of his triple-0 call, police evidence, and the accused.

“In order to find the accused robbed (the victim) you will have to determine whether the accused stole something and immediately before or at the time of doing so or after he used, or threatened to use violence in order to obtain the things stolen.”

Defence lawyer Danielle Cooper said it was not disputed Abbott took the tobacco pouch and papers from the dining room table from Mr Marchant’s unit.

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“What’s in dispute in this trial is whether Abbott used or threatened to use violence against (the man) when he took the tobacco and the cigarette papers,” Ms Cooper said.

“We ask that you carefully scrutinise the evidence of each of the witnesses to assess their credibility, their veracity and their reliability of their testimony as you assess wether the crown have proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Abbott … used violence at all.”

The trial continues tomorrow.

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