US Marine Kymani Powell pleads guilty to assaulting woman at Landmark Hotel
American Marine apologises for seedy nightclub assault on a woman. ‘Young men need to learn to keep their hands to themselves’
Police & Courts
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An American Marine who drunkenly groped a woman in a Territory nightclub has promised to hold his mates to account and prevent future seedy assaults.
Kymani Powell appeared in Darwin Local Court on Friday to plead guilty to unlawfully assaulting a woman at the Landmark Hotel on Roystonea Ave, on April 30.
Prosecutor Marty Aust said the Connecticut man “forcefully groped” his victim, who was unable to defend herself in the popular nightclub.
However, Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris rejected this description of the assault in giving her reasons for sentencing later that afternoon.
“This was an uninvited, unwanted intrusion on an intimate area of her body by a stranger,” Mr Aust said.
“At the time she felt dirty and shocked.”
Mr Aust said it was a testament to the woman’s strength and maturity that the seedy grope was called out.
“Unfortunately offences where drunken young men can’t keep their hands to themselves occurs frequently.
“But they don’t always come to the courts.
“She called it out, to her credit.
“Young men need to learn to keep their hands to themselves.”
Mr Aust said Powell and his victim had taken part in a Restorative Justice meeting following the assault.
Mr Aust said the woman showed great maturity in meeting her 21-year-old attacker, and accepting his apology.
The court heard she asked Powell to promise to never again grope another person, and to hold other men accountable for how they treat women.
His defence barrister Mary Chalmers said the 21-year-old was determined to uphold his commitment to his victim.
“This young man has very much learnt (his lesson) in the most dramatic way possible,” Ms Chalmers said.
She said Powell was appalled by his own actions.
“He has always shown (women) the respect they deserve,” Ms Chalmers said.
“What he did on the night was way out of character.
“It was … an ill-advised lapse in his otherwise exemplary character.”
Ms Chalmers said it was his first deployment overseas, and Powell had struggled with being separated from his family.
Ms Chalmers said the young man faced serious consequences, including putting his job at risk which would also jeopardise his ability to afford university.
“(But) his stepmum’s disappointment with him is the worst aspect of all of this,” she said.
“He’s been too ashamed to tell her.”
Ms Chalmers said she was confident Powell would not reoffend, particularly as he was shipping back to American on October 7.
She pushed for the matter to be dismissed, with no conviction.
Despite Powell pleading guilty to unlawfully assaulting the woman, the Chief Judge dismissed the charge and no conviction was recorded.
Powell was ordered to pay a $150 mandatory victim levy.
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