Norman John Murphy: Nightcliff Tigers legend found guilty of punching wife in the face

He was a two-time Nichols Medal winner and named in AFL NT’s list of the top 100 players of the 20th century – now he is a convicted domestic violence offender. Inside the sad decline of a footy legend.

Darwin man Norman John Murphy, 49. Picture: Alex Treacy

The fall from grace of a legendary Northern Territory AFL player, a two-time Nichols Medal winner, has been detailed in court after a judge found him guilty of punching his wife in the face.

Norman John Murphy, 49, who AFL Northern Territory included in their 2016 list of the top 100 players of the 20th century, appeared in Darwin Local Court on Thursday having previously pleaded not guilty to a count of aggravated assault.

He was also charged with multiple counts of breaching a domestic violence order and bail conditions, which he already pleaded guilty to.

It was the Crown’s case that he engaged in a protracted assault on his wife near the carpark of Darwin Botanic Gardens on March 22 last year while the pair were both heavily intoxicated.

However, Judge Greg MacDonald found he could only be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Murphy punched his wife once in the face.

The case hinged on the evidence of a woman who was driving into the botanic gardens and called triple-0 after witnessing the first punch.

Murphy’s wife declined to provide a statement to police or give evidence to the court.

The witness previously testified she saw Murphy punch his wife in the face while sitting on a park bench.

Norman John Murphy in his playing days for the Nightcliff Tigers. Picture: Facebook

After pulling up in the car park approximately 100m away from the pair, she said she witnessed the assault continue, although her view was partially obstructed and she was unable to see Murphy’s wife.

While the witness was “clearly an intelligent and articulate person,” her evidence was at times “defensive, sanctimonious and strident,” Judge MacDonald found.

He said he could not discount as a reasonable possibility that the shock of witnessing Murphy punch his wife in the face on the park bench contributed to the witness having an “illusory certainty” about what happened next, of which she only had a partial view.

“While it may be strongly suspected that the assault continued well beyond that point, a reasonable doubt does exist in regards to the nature of [its alleged continuation],” Judge MacDonald said.

He noted that Murphy’s wife was affectionate and tactile after officers arrived at the botanical gardens in response to the witness’ report, and that she bore no visible injuries or markings indicative of an assault.

Nightcliff's Norm Murphy (left) and Wanderers Dean Dempsey vie for the ball during an NTFL match held at Gardens Oval. Circa: 10/1995.

Murphy denied to the officers he had assaulted his wife, telling them he was “not a woman basher,” as captured on body-worn camera vision.

Murphy’s defence lawyer told the court his client was living in the long grass and was alcohol dependent, although he was currently working full-time.

The domestic violence order breaches, which occurred between November 2023 and February 29 this year, involved Murphy becoming intoxicated on the weekends and being found in the company of his wife.

Judge MacDonald said he held little confidence Murphy could moderate his alcohol consumption.

“He’s not going to give it up. I’d be wasting our time,” he said.

“He’s got to wake up to himself one day.”

Judge MacDonald said he would ordinarily jail defendants for offending such as Murphy’s.

“Have you ever spent any time in Holtze?” he asked the defendant.

Murphy, whose head was bowed, replied in a gravelly voice, “One week.”

“You don’t want to go back do you?” the judge asked.

“Nup,” Murphy responded.

Judge MacDonald extended leniency to Murphy in the form of a 12-month community correction order, with convictions recorded.

“I hope you succeed,” Judge MacDonald told the defendant.

Murphy, who is half-Papuan, played for the Nightcliff Tigers in the Northern Territory Football League from 1990–2001.

He won the Nichols Medal for the league’s best and fairest in 1996–7 and again the following year, one of only four players to win the medal in consecutive years.