Teenage boy accused of stabbing two girls in NT while on bail denied bail by judge

The history of a teenage boy accused of stabbing two girls while out on bail has been revealed, with a judge denying his bid for freedom amid ‘deep concerns’ that he’d comply with conditions.

The boy appeared in Alice Springs Local Court. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The history of a teenage boy accused of stabbing two girls while out on bail has been revealed, with a judge denying his bid for freedom.

On Monday, the 17-year-old was before Judge David Woodroffe in the Alice Springs Local Court.

The boy had been arrested and charged on Saturday with stabbing his 16-year-old female partner and another 15-year-old girl with scissors on Thursday.

He was charged with recklessly endangering serious harm, endangering others, aggravated assault, breaching his bail, and was also served with a non-contact domestic violence order.

The court heard the teenager had previously been before the courts in 2024 over allegations he had in separate incidents let off a fire extinguisher, threatened and assaulted a woman and a man with a machete in Alice Springs, and threatened another woman with an iron bar during.

He had been bailed to an NT community to participate in “men’s business” before the most recent allegation, defence lawyer Simon Lapinski told the court.

Police previously alleged the teenager’s partner was stabbed multiple times in the leg with scissors, while the other girl was stabbed in the back.

Mr Lapinski disputed this, and tendered evidence to the court which he said showed injuries were not “consistent with a stab by a pair of scissors”.

He argued his client had been “repeatedly harassed” by the two girls, who threw rocks at the boy.

“This ongoing provocation led my client to attempt to defend himself, which now resulted in domestic violence charges,” Mr Lapinski said.

Defence lawyer Simon Lapinski enters the Alice Springs Local Court. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“He fought them off, he happened to have in his pocket at the time a pair of nail clippers.

“In the course of the altercation with the two girls attacking him, he has scratched and hit the girls with the nail clippers.”

Appearing in the dock, the teenager nodded his head in agreement when Mr Lapinski spoke.

Police prosecutor Phil Emmett disputed Mr Lapinski’s argument, calling it “manufactured” evidence.

Bail was opposed by Mr Emmett, citing the “risk” of reoffending as being “too great”.

Mr Emmett also tendered email evidence which he claimed was an exchange between the boy and his mother in Warlpiri, in which she told him to say the girls had attacked him.

Mr Lapinski questioned officers’ ability to understand Warlpiri.

Some of the youth’s alleged offending is said to have taken place in Alice Springs, the court heard. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The boy was supported in court by some family members.

Judge Woodroffe did not provide a determination on the new evidence submitted, saying it would “ultimately to be decided at trial”.

He rejected a written statement from a group who knew the boy who asked that all charges be dropped against him, calling it “hearsay”.

“The totality of violence which is said to have occurred on family members, females – in fact four females, two of them under the age of 16; violent offending, I consider such a risk that I have deep concerns about you complying with bail,” he said.

When bail was refused, the eldest family members appeared to let out a deep sigh, and held her head down.

Judge Woodroffe adjourned the matter to April.