Manton Dam fatal crash survivors charged for Adelaide River robbery

The final moments before a 15-year-old Palmerston rapper‘s brutal death have been revealed in a Darwin court. See what two teenage crash survivors told the court.

Two teenagers who witnessed an up-and-coming Palmerston rapper's final moments before his brutal death have faced court.

A 15-year-old and 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were surrounded by four Supreme Court security guards as they stood to make their plea in relation to a night of hooning and robbery before a horror highway crash on July 3.

The boys were in a group of five children joyriding in a stolen Toyota Landcruiser when it skidded off the Stuart Highway, rolled and crashed into a tree.

All five boys were thrown from the vehicle as it tumbled to a stop.

The body of 15-year-old ‘Palmo Stingah’ was found near the wreckage, while the four survivors were flown to Royal Darwin Hospital.

On Monday two of the survivors faced Justice Peter Barr charged with an armed robbery of the Adelaide Puma Service station in the immediate lead up to the horror crash.

The court heard the then 14 and 15-year-olds were with the boys, aged nine, 11 and 15, when they burst into the service station armed with a wheel brace.

The two boys pleaded guilty to robbing the business, making off with cash, cigarettes, tobacco, sunglasses and confectionery and damaging the cash register.
Six month after watching his friend’s final moments, the now 15-year-old teenager rocked slightly in the dock and bit his lip before entering his plea to dangerous driving causing death and endangering the lives of his surviving passengers.

The crash wreckage at Manton Dam. Picture: Floss Adams

The teenager wrapped his arms together, crossed over his chest as he quietly repeated “guilty” to 11 charges dating between June and October 2022, including dangerous driving causing death, robbery, assault, damaging property and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

The court heard following his arrest, the 15-year-old was involved in the assault of three workers in Darwin including an incident eleven days after the traumatic crash and another on October 16.

The 15-year-old also admitted to damaging the glass doors at Casuarina Shopping Centre on the same day of the crash, and assaulting and threatening a man with a broken bottle in Darwin on June 29.

The scene of the fatal crash. Picture: Floss Adams.

His barrister Claire Porter said she had waited three months for a mental health report from Don Dale, which had still not reached her office.

“There has been some significant delays,” Ms Porter said.

She said the report would assess if the 15-year-old had a foetal alcohol syndrome diagnosis, autism or any personality disorders.

Now 16, the older teenager also pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the armed robbery and damage at the service station and unlawful use of the motor vehicle.

The court heard the 16-year-old was engaging well with back to school and the back on track programs while out on bail.

Their hearing was adjourned to March 7 for sentencing submissions.