Man dies from stab wounds after Alice Springs brawl

A 28-year-old Warlpiri man has died from stab wounds at Alice Springs Hospital after he was involved in a brawl at a popular bar two months ago.

A man has died at Alice Springs Hospital after a brawl of ‘up to 20 people’ in Alice Springs in May. Picture: The Australian

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Police are considering upgrading charges against a man allegedly involved in a brawl in the Alice Springs CBD two months ago after a man he is accused of stabbing in the chest died in hospital.

Northern Territory Police on Friday afternoon said the victim, 28, had died at Alice Springs Hospital after the attack on May 15 and that police were “in consultation with the Department of Public Prosecutions” to determine whether charges against his alleged killer, 22-year-old Kaine Fisher, should be upgraded.

The deceased man — who The Australian has not named for cultural reasons — had been fighting for his life for more than a month after he was repeatedly stabbed in the town centre of Alice Springs as part of a daylight attack in front of shocked onlookers, including a family out for an early dinner with their 12-month-old child, which police believe occurred because those involved had received a “huge amount” of royalty payments and travelled from a dry community to drink.

Mr Fisher was arrested and charged with acts intended to cause serious harm. He will next appear in court on July 24.

Police said the altercation was “between up to 20 people” on Gregory Terrace just after 5pm.

Multiple sources told The Australian the victim and Mr Fisher had travelled from the dry community of Nyirrpi, about seven hours west of Alice Springs, to drink after receiving royalty payments from the Warlpiri Aboriginal Corporation. An association affiliated with the families involved in the fight is believed to have received part of that payment worth $136,908.16, according to documents obtained by The Australian.

Sources say a disagreement ensued when the victim accused Mr Fisher of assaulting a relative. The victim armed himself with steak knives before being disarmed by another person and then being allegedly stabbed by Mr Fisher in front of shocked onlookers who rendered him assistance.

Police are also still searching for a separate man who is believed to have fled Alice Springs, who could be seen in the video in the aftermath of the first stabbing, ­allegedly attempting to stab another man. He is not believed to be involved in the alleged stabbing of the deceased.

Footage obtained by The Australian, captured before police and ambulance arrived on scene, shows the then-27-year-old victim lying on the footpath as bystanders applied pressure to his wounds in a desperate attempt to keep him alive.

A third man armed with two knives was seen allegedly attempting to stab another man. Picture: The Australian

He walked past a mother and her 12-month-old child as he left the scene towards the Todd River. Picture: The Australian

The man was flown to Adelaide after the attack and was in critical condition.

NT police commander James Grey-Spence said at the time it was “not part of any broader ­conflict”.

“Police are working closely with traditional owners, elders, community members, land ­councils, and other government agencies to enhance community safety and prevent further incidents,” he said.

The family with the 12-month-old who witnessed the attack – with the accused coming frightfully close – is considering leaving the Alice “immediately”.

The incident prompted calls for an expanded trial of the Banned Drinker Register beyond bottle shops to include pubs, clubs and bars.

Mr Fisher was also hit with two charges of aggravated assault in relation to a separate incident, which was mentioned in his first court appearance. In relation to the stabbing attack, he was charged with intending to cause serious harm and going armed in public.