Philomena Nilco: jailed for Darwin City attack

A woman with a history of domestic violence has been sentenced to prison just minutes after her application for bail was struck down. Read what the judge said.

Darwin woman Philomena Nilco has been sentenced to prison after her bail application was struck down. Source: Facebook.

A woman with a history of domestic violence has been sentenced to prison just minutes after her application for bail was struck down.

On Friday morning, Darwin woman Philomena Nilco appeared in the Darwin Local Court via video link, charged with aggravated assault and contravening a domestic violence order.

The court heard that on October 12, 2024, a drunken Nilco went to the Darwin City residence of a person who had a DVO against her.

Arriving with scissors and rocks in hand, Nilco attacked the victim before police arrived and arrested her.

Judge Julie Franz decided against granting bail, citing Nilco’s record of breaching DVOs.

“I’ve also looked at (Nilco’s) criminal history - there’s too much trouble there for aggravated assault and breach of DVO, particularly against (the victim),” she said.

“I’m not going to grant bail.”

Nilco appeared in the Darwin Local Court Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

With her bail application denied, Nilco proceeded to plead guilty to both charges levelled against her.

Nilco’s lawyer told the court his client was born in Darwin and raised in Wadeye, where she grew up “grew up with violence”.

The court also heard Nilco had been “set up to fail” due to the “turmoil” she had experienced in her personal life.

In response, prosecutor Lajita Allan-Agnew revealed Nilco had recorded nine DVOs, six aggravated assaults and two records of endangering serious harm against her name.

Ms Allan-Agnew said Nilco had an “inability to comply” with court orders.

“This is a person that’s not getting the message, that (thinks) it is okay to harm this person.”

Judge Franz sentenced Nilco to six months prison backdated to October 12, 2024.

Nilco’s existing DVO will remain in-force until 2027.

In handing down her verdict, Judge Franz warned Nilco to stay clear of the victim.

“Leave (them) alone or you will go back to prison.”