Top End FIFO worker Jake Fenner’s bail bid rejected after homicide charge downgraded

The witnesses of a 71-year-old man’s killing have been exposed to ‘loud expletive-laden music’ from the alleged killer’s mother ahead of his manslaughter trial, a court has heard.

Jake Joshua Fenner, 29, was charged with the manslaughter following his 71-year-old father death.

A Top End FIFO worker who allegedly beat his father to death with a metal pole after being denied a lift to the airport has been denied bail.

Jake Fenner appeared before Chief Justice Michael Grant on Monday after spending 500 days in prison following his father’s death on November 4, 2023.

Reading from the alleged facts, Justice Grant said Mr Fenner was a fly-in, fly out mine worker living in a caravan on his parents’ property when he got into a fight with the 71-year-old.

After being told he would not be given a lift to the airport, it was alleged the 29-year-old armed himself with a pole and repeatedly struck the older man to the head.

It is alleged that neighbours could hear him yelling abuse at his father, before the 71-year-old was pushed into the pool.

“(He) pulled him out after a long period of time,” Justice Grant said.

Jake Joshua Fenner, 29, was charged with the manslaughter following his 71-year-old father death.

He said neighbours could still hear the older man coughing and wheezing, but called triple-0 10 minutes later when Mr Fenner allegedly started “abusing” him again.

Justice Grant said Mr Fenner also called emergency services saying his father had “drowned and had been hit in the head several times”.

“The St Johns Ambulance officer attempted to get (Mr Fenner) to start CPR on his father, without any apparent success,” he said.

Prosecutor Tamara Grealy alleged Mr Fenner was calling triple-0 as he was pulling his suitcases into an alleyway to meet a taxi for his flight.

Justice Grant said NT Police arrived at the Moil home to find the man “lying with his back next to the pool, with (Mr Fenner) leaning over him”.

Emergency services attempted to resuscitate him, but he was declared dead 30 minutes later.

Justice Grant said the autopsy revealed multiple cuts and injuries to the man’s head, resulting in multiple bleeds in the brain, and injuries to his hands and arms “typical of defensive injuries”.

Mr Fenner told police he acted in “self-defence”.

Jake Joshua Fenner, 29, was charged with the manslaughter following his 71-year-old father death.

He was initially charged with his father’s murder, but on Monday the Supreme Court heard that charge had been downgraded to manslaughter.

Defence barrister Jon Tippett said these lesser charges, as well as his continued family support, long work history and a job opportunity, were credible reasons for his release on bail.

Mr Tippett said Mr Fenner was not a threat to the wider public, as the alleged offending was “particularly related” to the man’s relationship with his father.

“He has spent considerable time in prison,” Mr Tippett said.

But Justice Grant interrupted to point out manslaughter could still carry life in prison.

Jake Joshua Fenner, 29, was charged with the manslaughter following his 71-year-old father death.

Indeed, Ms Grealy said prosecution opposed bail over fears Mr Fenner would not attend his own trial and the risk he would try to intimidate witnesses, particularly his mother’s neighbours.

“There is evidence that (Mr Fenner’s) mother has played loud expletive-laden music from the back of her yard in order to annoy the neighbours,” Justice Grant said.

On Monday Justice Grant denied the bail request, setting his seven-day trial to begin on August 18, with a pre-trial hearing set for July 15.

Justice Grant suggested to defence and prosecution they should negotiate to “whittle down” the current list of 29 witnesses to meet the seven-day trial dates.