‘Mediator’ Roy Daye could have charge downgraded after dramatic Cullen Bay arrest

Prosecutors have flagged a bid to downgrade a serious charge against a self-styled ‘mediator’ at the centre of a dramatic arrest in the well-heeled Darwin suburb of Cullen Bay last week.

Roy Daye describes himself on social media as a mediator at ‘debt mediation and resolution’. Picture: Facebook/Supplied

A self-styled professional mediator arrested in dramatic scenes in a Cullen Bay driveway last week could have the case against him downgraded after a planned bail application was withdrawn.

Roy Francis Daye, 53, faced the Darwin Local Court on Friday, where his barrister, Jon Tippett KC, told judge, Dick Wallace, the previously flagged bail application would not go ahead.

“I’ve received documents from the prosecution this morning that I want to talk to Mr Daye about tomorrow at the prison,” he said.

Daye stands charged with unlawfully causing serious harm and a string of drug and firearms offences following his arrest by heavily armed tactical police in Cullen Bay Crescent on Thursday morning.

Mr Tippett asked for his case to be adjourned to begin the process of committal to the Supreme Court but Crown prosecutor, Marty Aust, said the charges could potentially be resolved summarily.

“I have taken measures to have a further charge laid that may replace the current strictly (indictable) charges, so I’ve asked for a charge of recklessly endangering serious harm to be laid,” he said.

“That will be filed with the court today, and pending ongoing discussions, this matter might not require a committal but I don’t want to put the cart before the horse at all.”

Mr Aust said while there was still some evidence outstanding, the bulk of the prosecution’s case had already been compiled.

“There is a statement from the complainant, there’s a statement from the investigating officer, there’s footage and there are photographs,” he said.

Heavily-armed police officers swarmed on a Cullen Bay Crescent home where they arrested 53-year-old Roy Daye last week. Picture: Supplied

“There’s medical evidence coming in and we expect, potentially at least, to canvass a statement from a witness who’s been identified.

“Whether he’s willing to provide a statement or otherwise, that remains to be seen, but he would probably be almost certainly someone who’s still subpoenaed as part of a contested matter.”

Daye, who describes himself on social media as a mediator at “debt mediation and resolution”, was remanded in custody and will return to court on February 22.

He is understood to have been known to police prior to an alleged incident earlier this month that led to his arrest, and was believed to be temporarily staying at the Cullen Bay home where he was apprehended.

The owners of the property were not targeted in the police operation and there are no allegations of wrongdoing on their part.