Major Karama brawl charges dropped against former bodybuilder Bruce-lee Arthur King
A man accused of taking part in a bloody brawl in Darwin’s northern suburbs has been allowed to remove his ankle monitor to avoid chafing.
Police & Courts
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A former bodybuilder allegedly involved in a bloody brawl in Karama is fighting to clear his name, a court has heard.
Bruce-lee Arthur King appeared in Darwin Local Court on Tuesday charged over an alleged violent family feud involving poles and edged weapons in Karama in October 2021.
His lawyer Robert Welfare said after spending 12 months in Darwin prison on remand, King was seeking to relax his strict bail conditions.
King was initially charged with attempted murder and intending serious harm, however those charges were dropped following a lengthy hearing.
Police allege King and Clarke were part of a violent brawl involving poles, shovels and edged weapons.
A 50-year-old and 26-year-old man were taken to hospital for non-life threatening injuries that required surgery.
His lawyer Robert Welfare said King disputed his remaining charges of going armed in public, recklessly endangering serious harm and aggravated assault.
“The reason he is coming to court is to be vindicated,” Mr Welfare said.
“I say the case is extremely weak in terms of using an edged weapon – there is no evidence after all this time.”
Mr Welfare said King would consider pleading guilty if the charges were downgraded to an affray.
Clarke was charged with intending serious harm, causing harm and going armed in public.
Mr Welfare said his co-accused Clarke was a young man with an “unblemished criminal record”.
“He wants his name cleared,” he said.
Mr Welfare said King had a “brilliant work career” and two boys to look after, yet he was still suffering under his bail conditions.
Mr Welfare said the court-imposed ankle monitor was causing “cuts and abrasions and irritations” to his skin in the Darwin heat.
He said police still had King’s car and wallet, despite requests to return it.
“He’s been unable to get a phone, because you need an ID to get a phone,” Mr Welfare said.
“They now print our drivers licences interstate, we don’t print them here and they take weeks to get.”
Ms Morris approved King’s bail variation, getting rid of curfew conditions and removing the ankle monitor.
King is still barred from going to Karama and contacting two alleged witnesses.
He will return to Darwin Local Court for a three-day hearing starting from August 14.
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