Accused Eastside rapist makes first appearance in Alice Springs Local Court

A man accused of a horrifying rape in Alice Springs has made his first court appearance, where he was put in his place by the presiding judge. Find out what happened.

Alice Springs Local Court. Picture: Gera Kazakov

A 22-year-old man accused of one the most heinous crimes – on a woman who police say was sleeping – has been shut down by a judge when he asked “to say a word” at his first court appearance.

The man, who cannot be named due to NT suppression laws, appeared in the Alice Springs Local Court on Wednesday.

Police have accused the man of raping a woman while she was sleeping in her home in Eastside five days earlier.

Police said the victim woke up during the alleged assault and screamed, causing the man to flee the scene in a vehicle.

The vehicle was later located in The Gap, where the man was arrested.

He has been on remand since his arrest on Saturday, and has been charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.

He is also facing charges of aggravated burglary, gross indecency without consent, being armed with an offensive weapon, and traffic offences.

Alice Springs Local Court. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Appearing before Judge Carly Ingles in court, he entered no plea to the charges.

The man asked “could I say a word” – which Ms Ingles sternly advised against with a blunt “no”.

She instead urged him to confide in his defence lawyer Luke Carr.

The man appeared taken aback by the comment, before he was escorted back to the cells as his matter concluded.

Mr Carr asked the matter be adjourned for a preliminary examination mention next year, which Judge Ingles granted.

Police prosecutor Phil Emmett asked for the names of the accused and the alleged victim to be suppressed under a section 57 application of the Evidence and Procedure Act.

However, Judge Ingles reminded Mr Emmett that under section six and seven of the Sexual Offences Act, names of accused individuals were already suppressed.

Mr Emmett did not oppose the matter being adjourned, as the court heard police had “quite a lot of forensic evidence which will need to be analysed”.

Judge Ingles adjourned the matter to March 6, 2025, and remanded the man in custody, telling him “this matter will be going to the Supreme Court”.

He would be excused from his next appearance if legally represented, Judge Ingles said.