Jurors in Keith Kerinauia’s trial for alleged murder of Declan Laverty to view crime scene, court hears

On Tuesday, Supreme Court Justice Graham Hiley told prosecution and defence counsel in the case he would not stand in the way of jurors being taken on a crime scene ‘view’.

Declan Laverty’s mother Samara at his funeral in April.

Jurors could visit the scene of the alleged murder of Declan Laverty when his accused killer faces trial in the middle of next year, a court has heard.

Keith Kerinauia is expected to plead not guilty in the Supreme Court to murdering the 19-year-old bottleshop worker during a routine shift at the Airport Tavern BWS in March.

On Tuesday, judge Graham Hiley told prosecution and defence counsel in the case he would not stand in the way of jurors being taken on a crime scene “view”.

“As to the view, generally I prefer counsel to sort that out between themselves,” he said.

“I know we’re a long way ahead of ourselves but certainly you’d have no objection from me to having a view.”

The trial is listed for up to two weeks, beginning on June 17 next year but Crown prosecutor Marty Aust told the court “it may be possible to start the trial a week earlier”.

“Our forensic pathologist is unfortunately booked for overseas travel, leaving the jurisdiction on the 20th of June,” he said.

“So I would be placed at difficulty in having to call witnesses out of order and lead the forensic evidence almost immediately, which may not be the most easy way for the jury to receive all of that material, just in terms of absorbing the narrative and understanding the case.

Flowers outside the Airport Tavern where Declan Laverty died. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“If I need to I will, of course, but what I’m led to believe is that my learned friend of King’s Counsel, Mr (Jon) Tippett is in a trial that may well not proceed the previous week, which is before your honour, which would then free your honour’s diary.

“Obviously it’s an important matter and we’re looking to get it on as soon as we can.”

In July, the Territory parliament debated a petition from Mr Laverty’s mother calling for tougher laws on weapons-related offending.

“Declan’s brutal death has had an effect on hundreds of thousands of people in the NT and countrywide,” Ms Laverty wrote in the petition.

“The current system is broken – people are not safe at work, people are not safe in their homes, people are scared to go shopping.”

The case will return to court for another pre-trial mention next month.