NT Police charge man with murder after fatal shooting near Katherine
A 38-year-old man has been charged with murder after the alleged fatal shooting south of Katherine on Thursday. Read full coverage here:
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
UPDATE 6PM SAT: A MAN charged with murder over the shooting death of another at a rural property near Katherine will face court on Monday.
The 38-year-old man is accused of fatally shooting a 26-year-old Indigenous man on Thursday morning outside a ranger’s home near the Cutta Cutta Caves.
In a statement late Friday night, NT Police said the man had been charged with a single count of murder and would be placed on remand until a court hearing on Monday.
The alleged shooting took place outside the Cutta Cutta Caves rangers’ residence in the early hours of Thursday morning.
It is unknown as to why the 26-year-old entered the rangers residence or if both parties knew each other, however the Sunday Territorian understands the alleged shooter is part of a large, well-known Katherine family.
A source told the NT News the man has “strong connection to family and Country down that way, and is a big part of the community”.
The family of the man who was shot also has links to Darwin and Katherine communities. Police confirmed the crime scene, located within the boundaries of the National Park, was no longer active.
It is understood the man who was shot had been a client at Venndale, as part of mandatory bail conditions. The Sunday Territorian was told, however, he was not there “under any corrections orders.”
Venndale Rehabilitation Centre is run by Kalano Community Association Aboriginal Corporation and offers both voluntary and mandated residential programs.
Kalano chief executive Alan Mole said the entire circumstance had been “tragic”.
He passed on his condolences to both parties.
Since the incident police have interviewed Kalano staff and neighbours of the property in Venn, the suburb where Cutta Cutta Caves is located.
One neighbour told the NT News “police weren’t giving too much away”.
The man was interviewed by police on Thursday, however said police were reluctant to tell him exactly what had occurred. According to locals, the community has been “shaken” by the events of the week.
Man charged with murder
UPDATE 6AM SAT: A MAN has been charged with murder following the shooting death of a 26-year-old man near the popular Cutta Cutta caves on Thursday.
In a statement on Friday night, NT Police said a 38-year-old man had been charged with a single count of murder.
The man has been remanded in custody, with no hearing date yet set in the Katherine Local Court.
The shooting unfolded at the ranger’s home within the grounds of the Cutta Cutta Caves in the early hours of Thursday morning.
On Saturday morning the police corden at Cutta Cutta Caves had been removed.
More to come.
Neighbours slept through Katherine shooting
UPDATE 6PM, FRI: A MAN is still in custody with no charges having been laid as investigations continue at a home just south of Katherine after a man was shot dead on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Aboriginal man was shot near the home of a Northern Territory ranger who lives on site at Cutta Cutta Caves. At the time the Territory ranger, their partner and two children were home, however police have not confirmed if either party knew each other.
In a statement on Friday Detective Senior Sergeant Jakson Evans said the family of the deceased “had been notified”.
“A 36-year-old (Aboriginal) man remains in police custody while investigations are continuing. At this time, no charges have been laid,” he said.
The man has been in custody since Thursday morning.
“We appreciate there is a lot of public interest in this case and we assure the community we are doing everything we can to establish exactly how this incident transpired,” he said.
Sources have told the NT News, the man who was fatally shot was a client at Venndale Rehabilitation Centre, which offers a 12-week residential program 35kms south of Katherine. The rehabilitation program is run by Kalano Community Association Aboriginal Corporation who believed the man was in the facility under bail conditions.
Kalano’s chief executive Alan Mole said both families were well known in the area.
“We want to pass on our condolences to the family and friends of all who have been involved in this tragic event,” he said.
“As the matter is currently under police investigation we politely decline to comment any further at this time.”
Since the incident police have interviewed Kalano staff and neighbours of the property in Venn, the suburb where Cutta Cutta Caves is located.
Neighbours from a nearby property said they didn’t hear any gun shots or commotion on Thursday morning.
“We were all sleeping with the aircon on,” he said. “It could have easily have been here though, who knows why he went there?”
The property had a caravan out the back which the neighbour told the NT News had a man living in and awake at the time of the incident but he also didn’t hear anything.
The neighbours, who were reluctant to speak on the record said they knew the ranger and their family well.
“Yeah, we know our neighbours. We all do. It’s a small town and all the rangers are part of this community,” they said. Tributes for the man who has passed have begun to pour out on social media as the family remembers a young man who will be “forever young”.
An aunty of the passed posted to Facebook on Thursday afternoon, which had several comments from family on it.
“I know we will see each other again my loving nephew. You (were) always there for me…Fly high my big neff, rest easy. I love you always,” the post read.
“Rest easy brother…he’s touched a lot of people (hearts), feels like a dream,” another person commented.
Police confirmed the investigation at the property is still continuing, with gates guarded by police.
Cutta Cutta Caves was already closed to the public due to wet season.
UPDATE 2PM, FRI: NT Police have identified the person shot dead in a home south of Katherine on Thursday as a 26-year-old man, as investigations continue into the circumstances leading up to the fatal incident.
“The deceased has been identified as a 26-year-old man and his family was notified on Friday,” Detective Senior Sergeant Jakson Evans said.
“A 36-year-old man remains in police custody while investigations are continuing. At this time, no charges have been laid.
“We appreciate there is a lot of public interest in this case and we assure the community we are doing everything we can to establish exactly how this incident transpired.”
The man was shot near the home of a Northern Territory ranger who lives on site at Cutta Cutta Caves.
At the time, the Territory ranger, their partner and two children were home but police have not confirmed if either party knew each other.
Tributes for the deceased have begun to pour out on social media as family remember a young man who will be “forever young”.
On Thursday, Sgt Evans confirmed a 36-year-old man was in custody and his home had been turned into a crime scene.
Sgt Evans said officers were investigating if the 36-year-old used lethal force to shoot at a reported ‘intruder’ in the early hours of Thursday morning.
UPDATE 9AM, FRI: NT Police are maintaining a cordon at the gates to Cutta Cutta Caves, after homicide squads on Thursday took over a home in the area following a fatal shooting.
Two police officers remain stationed at the gate, with the popular tourist attraction closed to the public.
Northern Territory Police Detective Senior Sergeant Jakson Evans confirmed a 36-year-old man was in custody and his home had been turned into a crime scene after another man was shot at a home, 30km south of Katherine.
Sgt Evans said officers were investigating if the 36-year-old used lethal force to shoot at a reported intruder in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The NT News was told by a well-placed source that a woman on the rural property was checking on her baby when a semi-naked man was in the area.
The woman’s husband allegedly shot the man.
Sgt Evans would not disclose where he was shot, how many times the weapon was fired or if the gun was licensed.
He said police and St John NT paramedics attempted first aid on the gunshot wound, but were unable to save the man.
“This was a confronting scene for everyone and police are not immune,” he said.
Two children, a woman and the man, who is now in custody, were at the home at the time of the shooting.
It is unknown if the two men knew each other, with Sgt Evans saying “that is one aspect we are looking at”.
Sgt Evans said a 36-year-old man was currently in custody and co-operating with investigators.
He was unable to confirm the deceased man’s age or if he was Indigenous, saying the priority of the investigation was identifying and working with his family.
Police remained cautious to release information in the early stages of the homicide investigation.
“We are still moving through the crime scene and we’re making sure we’re getting all that information before we release it,” he said.
“(We will) look at all the aspects of the house and the yard.
“With a homicide investigation we want to make sure we cover everything … we have to make sure we cross all our Ts and dot our Is.”
Sgt Evans said additional police officers and investigators had been assigned to the homicide investigation.
“As many as we can put towards the job to make sure it is done thoroughly but as quickly as we can,” he said.
Turning right off the Stuart Highway, motorists leaving Katherine would be unaware that the Cutta Cutta Caves are now a police crime scene.
On Thursday, as the sun belted overhead, two lone cops in a paddy wagon guarded the gates and the mystery behind them.
“We don’t know what is goin’ on. All we have been told is no-one is allowed in,” one officer told NT News.
Sgt Evans said officers would be canvassing the area to speak to witnesses.
The Detective was unable to confirm if the man was connected to reports of an absconder from a drug and alcohol treatment centre.
“That is another avenue of inquiry we are following up,” he said.
A Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman said the parks around Cutta Cutta Caves were already closed during the fatal incident, due to the wet season.
She was unable to confirm if a Parks and Wildlife employee or their family were involved in the alleged shooting as it was a police matter.
UPDATE 1PM, THURS: A MAN has been fatally shot at the Cutta Cutta Caves, 30km south of Katherine.
NT Police have confirmed a man has died during an incident near the Stuart Hwy.
The NT News understands the man was allegedly shot, with another man now in custody.
The ages of the two men have not yet been confirmed.
Earlier on Thursday morning, police warned the public of an increased police presence in the area but said there was no ongoing risk to the community.
The NT News was told by a well-placed source that a woman on a rural property was checking on her baby when a semi-naked man was in the area.
The woman’s husband allegedly shot the man.
A Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman said the park was already closed during the incident, due to the wet season.
She was unable to confirm if a Parks and Wildlife employee or their family were involved in the alleged shooting as it was a police matter.
Northern Territory Police Detective Senior Sergeant Jakson Evans will provide an update in relation to the man’s death at the Katherine Police Station at 2.30pm.
INITIAL: A MAN has died during an incident 30km south of Katherine.
The NT News understands the man was allegedly shot.
A second man is believed to be in custody at the Katherine Watch House.
The NT News understands a woman on a rural property was checking on her baby when a semi-naked man was in the area.
The woman’s husband allegedly shot the man.
Police are directing motorists away from the area.
NT News can confirm St John NT paramedics attended the scene.
NTPFES said the incident was 30km south of Katherine on the Stuart Highway.
MORE TO COME.
Company reveals big play to boost Aboriginal workforce
More than 15 per cent of the company’s workforce is Indigenous. However, that figure is set to rise, with the company planning to bolster its Aboriginal recruitment over the next 12 months.
Read more
Elderly woman successfully fends off handbag thief
A 76-year-old woman has fought off a teen who tried to steal her handbag outside a shopping centre.
Read more