Man charged with raping 3-year-old boy in Karama front yard faces court for the first time

A MAN who allegedly sexually assaulted a 3-year-old boy outside his home last week has faced court for the first time, charged with raping the child

• Man charged over serious sexual assault of three-year-old

A MAN who allegedly sexually assaulted a 3-year-old boy outside his home in Karama last week has faced court for the first time, charged with raping the child.

The 21-year-old, who cannot be named under NT law, was remanded in custody to return to the Darwin Local Court today after lawyers were unable to secure an interpreter for him.

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He was arrested last week after allegedly approaching the 3-year-old as he played in the front yard of his home on Thursday evening and attacking him.

Defence counsel James Stuchbery said it was only the man’s second time ever before a court after he was dealt with for a traffic offence last year.

“I’m asking that the matter be adjourned until tomorrow so we can explain things to him with the benefit of an interpreter and for a call up notice to be issued so we can do that here in the courts to facilitate the taking of instructions,” he said.

Judge Greg Cavanagh asked why the case shouldn’t simply be moved into the committal list due to the legal requirement that it proceed to the Supreme Court.

But Mr Stuchbery said while that would be the likely course of events his client should at least have an opportunity to have the charge against him explained with the benefit of an interpreter.

“He hasn’t had what’s happening explained to him in a language that he understands and we’re just asking for it to go off until tomorrow,” he said.

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“In all likelihood it will then obviously be adjourned for a (preliminary examination mention). I can’t speak to whether or not there’ll be an application for bail or anything of that kind.”

Mr Cavanagh agreed to the adjournment while commenting “I wouldn’t have thought he was going to get bail”.

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