Darcy Skeen: Darwin teenager accused of posting and boasting offence

A Palmerston teenager accused of posting photos online after a nasty brawl has faced court for the first time since the legislation was brought in.

Darcy Skeen has been charged with publishing material about offending. Picture: Harry Brill.

A Palmerston teenager accused of ‘posting and boasting’ has been granted bail because of the amount of time it would take his case to be finalised, a Top End court has heard.

On Friday afternoon, Darcy Skeen appeared in the Darwin Local Court charged with intending serious harm, unlawfully causing harm and publishing material about offending.

The post and boast legislation was brought into law in the Northern Territory in mid October this year.

The court heard Mr Skeen, 19, was in a Palmerston supermarket with his boss on the afternoon of October 31, 2024, when the alleged victim walked into the premises.

It was heard the victim allegedly punched Mr Skeen in the jaw, triggering an incident whereby “various other people” descended on the location.

A fight involving weapons “erupted”.

It was heard “serious injuries” were sustained from the incident but did not specify who was hurt.

Details of Mr Skeen’s alleged actions throughout the fight were not revealed – however it was heard Mr Skeen later allegedly posted photographs online of a weapon allegedly used in the brawl.

Mr Skeen’s lawyer, NAAJA’s Ganur Maynard, indicated his client would contest the matter.

Mr Maynard conceded his client was “not without history before the court”, but maintained granting bail was appropriate with certain conditions applied.

“This will allow Mr Skeen to continue his rehabilitation while these matters progress,” he said.

“At this stage the brief of evidence by the prosecution hasn’t yet been served – of course it will be measured many months before a trial date is elected.”

The prosecution opposed bail, citing “risk of re-offending”. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Prosecution opposed bail.

“The reason being is risk of reoffending,” the prosecutor said.

“(What is) currently before the court is extremely serious.”

She said Mr Skeen was facing prison time if found guilty.

“If found guilty – and I hear what my friend said that it’s to be contested – he is facing a period of imprisonment,” she said.

Judge Greg MacDonald noted the lengthy wait time for matters to be dealt with in the Supreme Court.

“Any trial in the Supreme Court, on my understanding, is not likely to commence for approximately 12 months.”

In the end, Judge MacDonald granted bail.

“Mr Skeen I’m giving you bail today because of the amount of time it's’ going to take for this matter to get to the Supreme Court and for you to stand trial.”

“You already know what the score is – I don’t know what happened on the 31st of October, but it’s extremely serious.”

Conditions imposed on Mr Skeen include wearing an electronic monitoring device, not entering the suburb of Moulden and abiding by a curfew between 10pm and 6am when in the Darwin region.

Mr Skeen will next appear in court on January 15, 2025.

Originally published as Darcy Skeen: Darwin teenager accused of posting and boasting offence