Christopher Lee Maxwell charged with assault of Danish tourist near Todd River

A man accused of brutally assaulting a tourist on the banks of an Alice Springs river has signalled he will fight the charges against him.

Twenty-four hours after the alleged aggravated assault, 22-year-old Christopher Lee Maxwell appeared before the Alice Springs Local Court on Wednesday. Picture: Gera Kazakov

A man accused of brutally assaulting a tourist on the banks of an Alice Springs river has signalled he will fight the charges against him.

Twenty-four hours after the alleged aggravated assault, 22-year-old Christopher Lee Maxwell appeared before the Alice Springs Local Court on Wednesday.

It is alleged a 21-year-old Danish woman had just arrived in Alice Springs when she was attacked by Mr Maxwell in broad daylight, at 4pm, Tuesday.

It was alleged Mr Maxwell started pelting rocks at the woman at the South Terrace, alongside the Todd River, before knocking the female tourist out with a punch.

Mr Maxwell allegedly stomped on the head and chest of the unconscious woman, until bystanders managed to chase him away.

The tourist was taken to Alice Springs Hospital in a stable condition with non-life threatening injuries, and Mr Maxwell was arrested close to the site of the alleged incident.

On Wednesday afternoon, Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris was told Mr Maxwell was seeking a directions hearing date, meaning he would be contesting the allegations against him.

Typically a directions hearing date is set within four weeks of a first appearance, however Ms Morris adjourned the matter to June 5 — 58 days away.

No application for bail was made for Mr Maxwell’s release, and he was remanded in custody.