NT Police Matthew Lea-Smith to face Supreme Court over fail to rescue charges
A lead Territory police negotiator with decades of experience as a first responder will face the Supreme Court over allegations he failed to save a person in Palmerston.
Police & Courts
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A Territory cop who allegedly watched the life drain out of a person and did not provide first aid in Palmerston will soon face a jury.
NT Police negotiator Matthew Kevin Lea-Smith, 52, faces two counts of failing to rescue a person, in relation to an alleged incident in Palmerston almost three years ago.
It is alleged the police officer did not provide medical treatment of first aid to a person, who was in urgent need of it between midnight and 2.30am on March 4, 2020.
It is alleged that Lea-Smith’s failure to help meant their life was put in danger.
The NT Criminal Code states that anyone who is able to provide rescue, resuscitation, medical treatment, first aid or help in a life-threatening incident, but “callously fails” to do so can face up to seven years in prison.
On Tuesday, Lea-Smith stood before Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris in Darwin Local Court before his case was committed to the Supreme Court.
His defence lawyer Ray Murphy said his client was choosing not to make a submission or call evidence at this stage.
Lea-Smith also declined to enter a plea to the local court.
Prosecutor Marty Aust said while the prima facie case was conceded the matter would be contested in the Supreme Court.
Ms Morris committed him to appear in the Supreme Court, with Lea-Smith’s next hearing set for April 6.
The police negotiator with decades of experience as a first responder was charged in March, two years after the alleged incident.
According to Lea-Smith’s social media the NT Police negotiator has served in the Territory since 2009.
His LinkedIn said before joining the Territory front line, Lea-Smith was a police officer in Victoria for 15 years, after leaving the Australian Army after five years as an infantry soldier.
In 2020 Lea-Smith was awarded the NT Police Service Medal in recognition of 10 years of “ethical and diligent service”, according to the NTPFES annual report.
Police confirmed in March that the fail to rescue investigation was under the oversight of Crime Command.
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