Alleged Peppimenarti crossbow shooter Michael Singar makes bail appeal
A teenager accused of fatally shooting another man has made a fresh appeal for bail. Here’s why he wants to go home.
Police & Courts
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A teenager who allegedly fatally shot another man with a crossbow during inflamed community tensions has made an appeal to return home.
Michael Singar was charged with manslaughter and recklessly endangering life after a 36-year-old was allegedly fatally pierced with an arrow in Peppimenarti on September 13.
The 18-year-old appeared in Darwin Local Court on Wednesday via a video link into Holtze prison, 307km northwest of his West Daly home.
Judge Ben O’Loughlin said there had been three attempts to make a bail assessment for the young alleged killer.
His lawyer John Blackley said the first attempt to contact Singar was delayed when workers walked off the job during a strike at the Darwin prison.
Mr Blackley said Corrections had also unsuccessfully tried to contact Singar’s aunty to assess her Palmerston home as a suitable bail address.
“Mr Singar needs a place to stay,” Mr Blackley said.
He proposed an additional bail assessment be made for the Peppimenarti teen’s home.
Prosecutor Marty Aust had previously said the bail application to the Palmerston address was agreed, however flagged caution with the teen returning to Peppimenarti.
The matter was adjourned to November 13.
The case against another young man allegedly involved in the Peppimenarti unrest on the same day was also heard in Darwin court on Wednesday.
Darius Miller, 22, made the 300km journey from his bail address in Emu Point, west of Peppimenarti, to the Darwin court on Wednesday.
Miller was charged with recklessly endangering life, engaging in violent conduct, aggravated assault and damaging property at Peppimenarti.
Mr Aust said the two young men’s charges were “interrelated”, and a police investigation at Peppimenarti had “given rise to more questions than answers”.
Millar’s assault charges are not directly related to the 36-year-old’s death.
Mr Aust said police were preparing submissions for the complicated matter.
Millar’s case will return to court on January 25, for a preliminary examination on the papers.
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