Koang Wuordol, 22, charged with murder of Yiel ‘Yoal’ Deng Gatluak at Alice Springs
A 22-year-old man extradited under armed guard from Victoria has been charged with murder over the alleged killing of 19-year-old Alice Springs resident Yiel ‘Yoal’ Deng Gatluak. LATEST.
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A 22-year-old man has been charged with murder over the alleged killing of 19-year-old Yiel ‘Yoal’ Deng Gatluak at Alice Springs.
Koang Wuordol was extradited from Melbourne to Alice Springs on Monday morning.
He had on Sunday faced the Melbourne Bail and Remand Court.
He is expected to face Alice Springs Local Court on Tuesday charged with murder.
Another young man accused of helping in the alleged murder could spend at least 20 years behind bars if found guilty.
Guandong Lual Gatl Guandong celebrated his 22nd birthday locked behind the security screen at Alice Springs Local Court, charged with aiding and abetting the murder of 19-year-old Yiel ‘Yoal’ Deng Gatluak.
On New Year’s Day the 19-year-old’s body was discovered by cattle station workers abandoned on the Undoolya Road, 10km east of Alice Springs.
Police seized a number of items around Mr Gatluak’s body, while a 2017 black Ford Ranger Wildtrak was also examined by forensic teams.
It is alleged an autopsy report confirmed the 19-year-old’s cause of death was from blunt force trauma.
NT Police initially said Guandong would be charged with being an accessory to murder, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
However on Monday the 22-year-old appeared before Judge David Woodroffe on the elevated charge of aiding and abetting, which given the mandatory sentencing for murder carries a 20 year minimum jail term.
Under the NT Criminal Code, anyone who “aids, abets, counsels or procures” in relation to an offence is treated as if they also committed that offence, “and is punishable accordingly”.
Guandong made no application for bail, with his next appearance set for March 7.
Guandong spend 144 hours in pre-sentence detention without a charge, alongside a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy who were arrested on Monday January 8.
The Territory is the only place in Australia without a 48-hour limit to pre-charge detention.
The 20-year-old was released on Sunday without charge, but police have charged the 17-year-old with being an accessory to murder after the fact.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also appeared before court on Monday.
His application for bail before Judge David Bamber was opposed by prosecutors.
Judge Bamber remanded the teenager into custody, with his hearing adjourned to February 29.
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