Footballer Joseph Salmon charged on more than 30 DV offences

A local court judge has called it a “bizarre scenario” a footballer charged on 44 domestic violence charges had only been served a two-year DVO. Read what was said.

Joseph Salmon played for North Shore in the GFNL in 2024.

It “beggars belief” NT Police did not enforce a concrete domestic violence order against a star Darwin footballer accused of more than 30 DV-related offences, a court has heard.

Joseph Eric Salmon is accused of 44 charges in total, including 27 counts of aggravated assault against a woman known to him.

However, on Wednesday in the Darwin Local Court, judge Therese Austin said it was “quite bizarre” police had not previously issued a Section 41 domestic violence order – or an urgent police DVO – considering the nature of the alleged offending.

Instead, he was handed an interim order, set to expire after two years of the offending between October 2022 and January 2023.

“There are 44 counts on one file,” Ms Austin said.

“Choking, strangling … how could the police not have taken out a section 41 domestic violence order out in this particular case?”

Joseph Salmon leaves Geelong Court. Picture: Brad Fleet

The St Mary’s NTFL premiership player was investigated in mid-February 2023 for cases of alleged violence against his former girlfriend.

One alleged incident involved him punching his partner in the stomach, causing ongoing pain until she was taken to hospital for a surgical intervention for a ruptured fallopian tube.

He was arrested later that year, but was bailed to Geelong where he had moved to play footy and work, prohibited from making contact with his partner.

“It’s quite a bizarre scenario that a section 41 order (wasn’t taken out)... there’s allegations of actual violence, serious violence,” Ms Austin said.

“And there was no section 41 taken out by the police. This file has a number of anomalies.

Joseph Salmon for North Shore earlier this year.

“It’s so obvious the police should have taken out a section 41, there are some really serious allegations of actual violence.

“Police take out section 41s in cases where there is much less … this is allegations of serious violence over multiple dates extending over … months. It really beggars belief, I’ve got to say.”

Salmon returned to the footy field for North Shore at the start of the 2024 GFNL season, but has since stepped down.

It comes as Salmon, who is now based in Victoria, will be required to appear by audio visual link at the next hearing in August.