NT Police former Senior Sergeant Sandi-lee Mellon to enter pleas over assault, threats to kill
The former boss of the NT Water Police division was shaking as she appeared before a judge over allegations she assaulted and threatened to murder a Darwin resident.
Police & Courts
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A decorated ex-top cop who allegedly assaulted and threatened to kill a person in their own home is expected to enter a plea.
Former Senior Sergeant Sandi-lee Mellon’s voice quavered and she was visibly shaking as she stood before Darwin Local Court Judge Therese Austin on Monday.
Ms Mellon told the court she intended to enter a negotiated plea to reduced charges over an alleged assault and intimidation incident from two years ago.
The former boss of the NT Water Police division was charged after allegedly breaking into a Darwin home on August 26, 2022 — the day after her husband and fellow officer Neil Mellon was arrested for unrelated conspiracy charges.
Mr Mellon was in court supporting his wife on Monday.
The fellow ex-cop just spent three months in prison after being convicted for destroying evidence, obtaining benefit by deception and leaking sensitive police secrets following the helicopter crash that killed Outback Wrangler star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.
Mr Mellon was not charged in relation to Ms Mellon’s alleged assault incident on August 26.
Ms Mellon was charged with unlawfully entering the home, trespass, assault, making a threat to kill and disorderly behaviour.
However on Monday, prosecutor Tamara Grealy said some of these charges would be withdrawn, with only the assault and threatening charges likely to remain.
Ms Mellon indicated she would fight for a non-conviction order, but flagged she would be unrepresented in the final hearing.
She said after two years of contesting the charges, she was no longer able to pay her barrister’s legal fees after racking up a $15,000 bill.
Ms Mellon previously attempted to dismiss the charges, arguing she could not be held legally responsible due to an underlying mental health condition.
The court heard a report from the Territory’s Chief Psychologist found Ms Mellon was fit to make a plea.
The medical report concluded while Ms Mellon had a mental illness at the time, her disturbance was not “likely to have materially contributed to the conduct”.
Ms Mellon initially said she wished to contest that report and bring on her own expert medical witnesses, however after being told this would extend her legal woes into early-2025 she told the court she would rather make a plea.
Ms Mellon was expected to return for a hearing at Darwin Local Court on Tuesday, however this was adjourned for a plea on Friday.
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