Darwin man Luka Angus Gittins-Bulmer granted bail following alleged Mitchell St stabbing

A man accused of stabbing another man on the Darwin party strip multiple times has been granted bail. See for details.

Luka Angus Gittins-Bulmer appeared in Darwin Local Court via video link. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A Top End man accused of stabbing another man multiple times during a late-night altercation on Darwin’s Mitchell Street has been granted bail.

Luka Angus Gittins-Bulmer, 22, was charged after allegedly stabbing another man on the party strip in the early hours of Sunday, June 23, 2024.

It is alleged Mr Gittins-Bulmer stabbed the man after a verbal altercation between two groups turned physical.

On Friday at Darwin Local Court, Mr Gittins-Bulmer’s lawyer said an assessment report had found the accused “suitable” for bail providing ”strict conditions” were in place.

Mr Gittins-Bulmer’s lawyer conceded the accused had “a history which doesn’t do him any favours”, but maintained her client had been “acting in self-defence” on the night of the alleged stabbing.

The court heard Mr Gittins-Bulmer, who appeared via video link, worked at INPEX, lived with his mother and had “strong family support” around him.

Mr Gittins-Bulmer’s lawyer confirmed the accused’s mother had agreed for her son to live with her if bail was granted.

The prosecution, however, opposed bail, citing the “objective seriousness” of the alleged incident and said Mr Gittins-Bulmer had breached bail four times previously.

The court also heard the accused had been convicted of carrying a machete on a night out in Darwin in 2023.

The prosecution said it would be an “unacceptable risk to the general public” if Mr Gittins-Bulmer was granted bail.

But Judge Julie Franz said she was satisfied the proposed conditions of the bail assessment report were strong enough.

“It is clear this is serious offending, it will take some time to be sorted out,” she said.

“But the curfew, the (electronic monitoring device), the fact you have a stable residence and, additionally, the fact your mother is prepared to put her own money and her reputation on the line in support of you is enough for me.”

Mr Gittins-Bulmer’s bail conditions include a curfew between 9pm and 6am, wearing a monitoring device and not leaving his residence without prior permission from a parole or probation officer.

Charged with unlawfully causing serious harm, armed with an offensive weapon, and engaging in violent conduct, Mr Gittins-Bulmer will next face Darwin Local Court on August 14 for a preliminary examination.