Two youths charged after alleged bashing of alderman and mayoral candidate at Casuarina Square
Two youths have been charged after allegedly bashing and robbing Darwin City Council alderman, and mayoral candidate in the upcoming elections, Gary Haslett at Casuarina Square.
Northern Territory
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UPDATE 8.30am: TWO teenagers are facing a string of charges after they allegedly bashed and robbed a man in the carpark of Casuarina Shopping Centre late on Wednesday afternoon.
Darwin City Council alderman, and mayoral candidate in the upcoming elections, Gary Haslett was left bloodied and bruised after he was bashed at the shopping centre.
Strike Force Trident and Serious Crime Detectives yesterday charged two 13-year-old youths with one count each of aggravated assault and aggravated robbery, three counts of criminal damage, two counts of criminal deception, three counts in relation to break-ins, an aggravated unlawful use of a motor vehicle and two counts each of stealing.
The youths were remanded in custody to appear in court on Friday.
NT Police said they would like to thank the public for their assistance in this matter.
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EARLIER: DARWIN City Council alderman, and mayoral candidate in the upcoming elections, Gary Haslett has been left bloodied and bruised after he was bashed at Casuarina Square yesterday.
Sporting a swollen black eye and broken glasses, Mr Haslett took to his social media account to state he had several fractures to his cheek bone and will require surgery.
He said he was partly targeted because of his election signage on his car.
“Our streets are not safe,” he wrote.
“I’m posting this from my hospital bed.
“Yesterday at 5.39pm in the carpark under Woolworths I was bashed and robbed.
“It is not safe to go near the bus interchange at Casuarina or shop at Woolworths.”
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He thanked police for their efforts.
“The police were there in minutes and did a great job. But what will happen once they catch them?” he said.
Speaking on Mix 104.9 Mr Haslett said that the altercation occured when he was picking his wife up from the shops.
He said that there were about 10 youths in the group that attacked him with some possibly being as young as eight.
“My wife had gone shopping so I went pick her up,” Mr Haslett said.
“Some kids came out and were giving a bit of cheek, I didn’t know at the time but earlier they had been harassing (my wife).
“As I drove off they were hitting the car and then I did what you should not do and stopped and got out. You shouldn’t do that, you should keep driving.
“A large guy came up from behind me, I didn’t see him coming, and hit me in the right eye socket and cheek, and there was blood everywhere.
“Then they took my bag and fled the scene. I didn’t know they had taken my bag until about half an hour later.”
Though he also confirmed that the police were making progress with enquriries into the case.
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