NT court: Johnny Little pleads guilty unlawful assault of partner

A man who evaded police for six months after bashing his partner and setting her clothes on fire says he’s ‘sorry’. Find out what happened in court.

Johnny Little appeared in the Northern Territory Supreme Court on Wednesday. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A man who bashed his partner with a saucepan before lighting her clothes on fire and chasing her into the bush has told a courtroom he’s sorry for his actions.

On Wednesday morning, Johnny Little pleaded guilty in the NT Supreme Court to unlawfully causing serious harm.

The court heard that on July 31 2023, Little launched a “terrifying and prolonged” assault on his female victim in the remote community of Amanbidji.

Using a knife to threaten the woman, Little struck her with a saucepan and a belt.

Despite bystanders attempting to stop Little, the ordeal continued when he forced his way into the woman’s home with a shovel and lit her clothes on fire.

The woman ultimately fled into the tree line to escape the assault, hiding in the scrub overnight.

The remote community of Amanbidji, where the assault occurred. The victim would ultimately run into the surrounding bushland and stay there the night to avoid Little.

Little chased after her and searched the area, but was unable to find his victim.

The next morning, police found the woman with such severe injuries that she was unable to see.

Court documents stated she also experienced “extreme pain” and had “great trouble walking”.

Police did not find Little, who would not be arrested until March 22, 2024.

After pleading guilty, Little gave evidence to the courtroom, sharing the details of his traumatic upbringing.

The court heard Little spent much of childhood “living on the streets” and had been exposed to a high level of alcohol abuse and family violence.

“His schooling was disrupted because of the instability at home,” his lawyer told the courtroom.

“(And) he wasn’t able to stay at home as a teenager.”

When Little was asked if he was remorseful for his action, he replied “yes”.

“Mr Little has said in court he’s sorry for what he’s done,” his lawyer said.

“In his instructions to me he said he feels shame for what he’s done and, notwithstanding that he has a significant history for violence against his partner, I say that the court can still safely make a finding that he is sorry for what he has done.”

The court Little had had brushes with the law previously.

The court also heard the woman wanted to continue her relationship with Little.

“She wants it to be a safe relationship, free from violence, free from threats and, in my submission, the best way to achieve that is a period of lengthy supervision,” Little’s lawyer said.

In the prosecution’s submission, it was heard Little had an “extensive” criminal history against the same victim dating back to 2016 when he contravened a domestic violence order.

Since 2019, the court heard Little had assaulted the woman five times.

For one of the assaults, the court heard Little had been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

Little will be sentenced next week. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Justice John Reeves questioned whether Little felt genuine remorse for his actions.

“He evaded arrest for nearly six months and was only arrested because he committed two further offences of violence against the same victim,” he said.

“How does that stack up to remorse?”

Justice Reeves also said there had been a “pattern” in Little’s offending.

“It seems he does not understand he cannot continue to consume alcohol and bash his domestic partner,” he said.

“And the only means I have available are to, by this sentence, deter him from that cause.

“It’s an established pattern (based on) the information to the courts – well established and it’s escalated over the years.”

Little remains on remand and will be sentenced on July 11.