Pair allegedly involved in Yirrkala fight denied bail due to community tensions

Two more men who were allegedly involved in a violent incident in East Arnhem land last week which left a teenage boy dead have been denied bail, with a judge citing concerns about tensions between feuding families in the community.

• Slain Yirrkala teen’s father refused bail to attend sorry business after 16-year-old’s alleged murder
• Yirrkala death: Police charge four men in relation to Yirrkala incident

TWO more men who were allegedly involved in a violent incident in East Arnhem land last week which left a teenage boy dead have been denied bail, with a judge citing concerns about tensions between feuding families in the community.

Austin Mununggu, 23, and Gerard ‘wuluma’ Mununggu, 21, were each charged with recklessly endangering life, going armed in public and engaging in violent conduct in relation to the incident in Yirrakala last Wednesday.

Legal Aid lawyers for the pair applied for bail today on both their behalf, saying they would agree not to speak to anyone from the other family involved in the fighting.

“I am told there will be no chance of any interaction with the other family involved,” said Gerard’s lawyer Joshua Bach.

Austin’s lawyer, Nicola MacCarron, told the court her client was of prior good character and that his conduct was in defence of his relative – the 16-year-old boy who was allegedly murdered.

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“He is described as not being a trouble maker at all,” Ms MacCarron said.

“The offending as alleged in the precis is denied.”

“His younger cousin brother, who was 16, is the deceased.

“He would like to be out bush with family to engage in sorry business”

However, Judge Tanya Fong Lim denied both men bail, saying there was too much of a risk of sparking further violence in the community.

“I am concerned there would be further trouble,” she said.

Ms Fong Lim also refused to grant bail to the alleged murder victim’s father on Tuesday so that he could attend sorry business for his son.

A 16-year-old boy is dead and at least three others are in hospital after a large fight in the remote Territory town of Yirrkala. Picture: Google

Gerard Bunumbirr Marika was charged with aggravated assault, property damage and causing serious harm.

In refusing bail, Ms Fong Lim said while she had “great sympathy for Mr Marika at the death of his son”, the risk to the community in releasing him was too high.

The man police allege was responsible for the 16-year-old’s death, Anthony Djurrawut Mununggurr, also appeared in court on Tuesday charged with murder.

However, he did not apply for bail.

All four men will return to court in June.