Case against Keith Kerinauia charged with Declan Laverty’s murder ‘very close to resolution’

The high profile murder case of a bottleshop worker will soon have its resolution. Read the latest court update.

The scene outside the Airport Tavern BWS in March. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The case against the man accused of stabbing bottle shop worker Declan Laverty to death is “very close to resolution”, a court has heard.

Keith Kerinauia, 19, stands charged with murdering the 20-year-old while he worked a routine shift at the Airport Tavern BWS in March.

His lawyer Peter Maley appeared before a criminal call-over hearing at the Supreme Court in Darwin on Thursday where he made a joint application with the Crown for an adjournment.

“Marty Aust has carriage of it for the (Director of Public Prosecutions), I’ve spoken to him on the phone,” he said.

“We’re very close to resolution here for part of the matter.”

Kerinauia is also charged with robbing clothing, an iPhone and AirPods from a 13-year-old boy as well as making a threat to kill and two counts of aggravated assault while armed with a knife.

Declan Laverty.

He was remanded in custody and will return to the Supreme Court on September 21.

Mr Laverty’s high profile death sparked outrage across the Territory, launching several anti-crime rallies outside Parliament House and leading to a suite of policy changes.

A petition by Mr Laverty’s mother Samara detailing nine proposals to tackle crime is set to be debated in parliament under the banner of “Declan’s Law” after garnering almost 25,000 signatures.