Three arrested over Sudanese teenager Yiel Gatluak’s death in Alice Springs

Three Alice Springs residents, including a juvenile, have been arrested over the death of Yiel Gatluak, whose body was found on New Year’s Day.

Yiel Gatluak is being remembered as a ‘good bloke full of jokes and laughs’ after his body was found on the outskirts of Alice Springs.

Family members of dead Sudanese teenager Yiel Gatluak, whose body was found dumped on the outskirts of Alice Springs, have claimed he was with “friends” at the time he died.

It comes as two men and a juvenile were arrested on Monday, a week following the discovery of the 19-year-old’s body on a road towards Undoolya Station on New Year’s Day.

Little is known about the trio, aged 21, 20 and 17, who are in custody after their arrests on Monday afternoon and evening.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy will be in Alice Springs on Wednesday to meet Mr Gatluak’s family, as police remain tight-lipped on details of the case but confirmed the arrested trio knew Mr Gatluak.

Mr Gatluak’s uncle, David Kong, told The Australian how he was frantically calling his nephew on New Year’s Eve and through to New Year’s Day, and that he felt “upset and emotional” considering his nephew was with his friends the day before his body was discovered.

“He got a lot of friends, I couldn’t mention their names for legal reasons … they were all together, chilling with each other,” Mr Kong said.

Meanwhile, Mr Gatluak’s family were ringing in the new year at the casino.

“We all went to the casino to celebrate the new year and I (was) hoping to see him there but I couldn’t see him. It was very heartbreaking … I tried to call him … he couldn’t answer and that actually makes me worried,” Mr Kong said.

On Tuesday afternoon, NT Police Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said charges had not yet been laid.

“Charges will be laid in due course. I cannot give you a definitive timeline, and what those actual charges will be also remains part of the investigation teams’ remit,” Assistant Commissioner Wurst said, adding the three in custody had been arrested at a residential address in Alice Springs.

“In due course we’ll provide more information (about the people) taken into custody but at this point in time it’s important for the integrity of the investigation that limited information be provided.”

He said police were waiting on forensic pathology results, and were unable to provide additional details about Mr Gatluak’s cause of death.

Describing his nephew as a “very loving young boy”, Mr Kong said what the attackers had done was “absolutely unacceptable”.

“Yiel was a very loving young boy, who loved jokes and (was) very friendly.” He said Mr Gatluak’s ambitions were to start a family and get married in Africa.

Speaking after the announcement of the arrests, Mr Gatluak’s father Deng Gatluak Koutgor called for justice to be served for the sake of the Alice Springs community.

“For the African community to be safe, we want the killer to be identified, because the community is too small,” Mr Koutgor said. “If the police do not find the killer, the people will be worried, they will be afraid for staying here.”

Mr Koutgor said he and his family wanted to know the motive for his son’s death.

Police are still seeking information about the movements of a Ford Ranger that has been seized but refused to detail its connection to the arrested trio.

Police have previously said they did not believe the owner was in possession of the vehicle at the time of Mr Gatluak’s death.

It comes as Alice Springs locals – many who say they are “living in fear” – claim there has been an avalanche of youth crime and anti-social behaviour in the region, despite government officials insisting otherwise.

Deputy opposition leader Gerard Maley said Mr Gatluak’s death was a “blatant failure in transparency, integrity, and public safety”.

“Chief Minister Eva Lawler’s ridiculous claim that crime is under control is a slap in the face to a town grappling with record levels of crime,” Mr Maley said.

In the days following the death of Yiel, who was being remembered as a “good bloke full of jokes and laughs”, relatives have gathered at the site where his body was found, praying, singing, holding hands and laying flowers.

“Yiel was a wonderful and a loving son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin and a true friend to many, who touched the lives of those around him,” Nyakuoar Gatluak wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for funeral costs.

“His heart was pure and he was always happy and kind to everyone.”