Release of man charged with murder starts talk of payback

LIVING alone with her dogs in a dilapidated trailer in Ti Tree, 80-year-old Nancy Stuart waits patiently for the release of her son from prison.

Nancy Stuart relaxes at Ti Tree Station, 17km west of Ti Tree

LIVING alone with her dogs in a dilapidated trailer at creek camp in Ti Tree, 80-year-old Nancy Stuart waits patiently for the release of her son from prison.

Reggie Stuart, 57, is currently serving a four-year prison sentence that will be suspended after two years.

In October, he pled guilty to the manslaughter of his 47-year-old brother Peterson, whom he had stabbed in the chest with a kitchen knife during an alcohol-fuelled argument.

During sentencing, Justice Jenny Blokland spoke of Reggie's concern for his mother Nancy.

In the past, Peterson had acted as one of Nancy's carers, and would often be found by her side in the grog yard at Ti Tree Roadhouse.

He also had a young daughter who allegedly witnessed the attack and his subsequent death.

Original reports suggested Reggie had stabbed his brother in an altercation over a rib bone, but in court it was said that it was to stop his brother from picking on him.

Nancy's cousins Linda and Fenella Haines, as well as the workers at Central Desert Shire Aged Care, now take care of her.

``Yeah, she's all right,'' Linda said when asked about Nancy.

``Sometimes she go to the roadhouse. Only when she gets paid.''

She said Reggie is coming out in July because ``there was no witness''. ``Yeah, it's right - he's family.''

Nancy's nephew, Patty Willis, 80, who also lives at creek camp in a tin shed, said everyone is waiting for Reggie's release, and that the younger men plan to enact traditional payback on Reggie once he returns to Ti Tree.

``He come out in July next year,'' Patty said. ``Some people are waiting for him (for) payback.''

When asked if Reggie deserves payback, Patty said he won't allow anyone to kill him.

``He's my cousin,'' he said. ``I stop them 'cause I'm a Christian man.

``I talk for him, I'm his cousin.''

Aboriginal musician Phill Moncrieff said that payback culture will always be unhindered by the white man's laws in some areas of Australia.

``Quite often we have seen the white man's laws become useless and inadequate in handing out exact justice. So Ancient Law takes over. It is still alive in our country and we still manage it the way we have done for 40,000 years,'' he said.

Domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault should be classified outside of the defined boundaries of traditional violence, according to the NT Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions guidelines.