Kir Kir Deng found guilty of groping his sleeping neighbour in Nightcliff taxi

A Palmerston Hospital nurse groped a sleeping woman in a taxi during the ride back home to his fiance.

A NURSE who groped his unconscious neighbour in the back of a cab showed “no remorse” for the brazen assault.

Kir Kir Deng, 31, was sentenced in the NT Supreme Court last month after being found guilty by a jury of unlawfully assaulting a woman in the back seat of a cab on October 25 2020.

The court heard that after working a double shift as a registered nurse at Palmerston Hospital, Deng was drinking heavily at the Throb Nightclub, Smith St.

It was Deng’s first time at the gay and lesbian nightclub and soon after midnight he spotted his victim in the crowd.

Despite being engaged to another woman, the 31-year-old repeatedly hit on the woman.

Justice Stephen Southwood said the club’s CCTV footage showed Deng approached her several times through the night, despite her clear yet “polite” disinterest.

Even after leaving the club at 4am, Deng continued to pursue her.

Deng repeatedly touched her arms, wrist and shoulders while she tried to talk to her friend outside Salvatore’s Restaurant on the corner of Smith and Knuckey St.

“Beautiful girl, I’d love to go home with you,” the court heard the engaged man told her.

“Please can we go to my home and have some fun.”

She told him she was not interested, and pretended her male friend was her boyfriend to ward off his advances.

After 45 minutes she left to find a taxi home, but was followed as she walked down Smith St.

Deng approached her and they agreed to share a taxi home to Nightcliff, as they lived near each other.

While in the cab home, she fell asleep in the back seat.

Deng placed his arm around the unconscious woman’s shoulders, putting his hand in her lap and kissing her head.

He then moved his right hand onto her breast, rubbing her breast for several seconds.

“The victim remained asleep and was unaware the offender had touched her,” Southwoods said.

A taxi camera recorded the entire assault, which was played before the court during Deng’s trial.

“It is apparent that the victim would have experienced emotional difficulties as a result of having to go through the court case, and no doubt some emotional difficulties having viewed the CCTV which was taken in the taxi,” Justice Southwood said.

“The offender has shown no remorse and still maintains his innocence despite the fact that his conduct in the taxi was recorded.”

Justice Southwood called the assault on the sleeping woman “brazen and opportunistic”.

“Women are entitled to be safe even when intoxicated and the courts must do what they can to ensure their safety”

The court heard that after Deng was charged for the indecent assault, his fiance broke off their relationship.

Justice Southwood said it was clear there was a history of problematic alcohol use, which was being addressed through substance abuse programs and Men’s Behaviour Change counselling.

“He used to binge drink and would consume a bottle of wine or more, and on the weekend might drink wine followed by six gin and tonics,” Justice Southwood said.

Deng told the court he was now clean of alcohol and had not lapsed since.

At Deng’s sentencing hearing on March 23, Justice Southwood recommended the 31-year-old keep attending these programs.

Deng was sentenced to six months in prison, already served.