Details emerge on how trio tracked down camping couple prior to alleged assault

Three alleged assailants ‘used social media to track down’ two campers before a disturbing attack on the duo, a court has heard. The accused men have asked a court for bail.

Christian (left) and Mason Butler were refused bail after allegedly assaulting a couple on a camping trip.

A trio of men has been charged with assaulting campers after allegedly tracking down the pair using social media.

Mason Butler, Christian Butler and Braydon Mamarika all appeared before the Darwin Local Court on Friday to apply for bail facing a number of charges including making a threat to kill.

Police say the men were known to the alleged victims, a man and a woman, prior to the assault at a remote Groote Eylandt campsite on April 1.

It was revealed in court that one of the men was previously in a relationship with the female victim, however they separated prior to the incident.

Prosecutor Charlotte Meybery-Reupert also tendered evidence, which she said showed the men used the Snap Map feature on Snapchat, to locate the victims while they were camping.

The court was told there would be other evidence including video recorded on the defendant’s phones as they made their way to and from the campers allegedly shouting threats.

According to police, the men were armed with weapons and caused significant damage to the couple’s vehicle before turning on the campers who required treatment at a local clinic for their injuries.

The trio were given 14 charges including damage to property, recklessly endangering causing serious harm, offensive behaviour in a public place, aggravated assault and deprivation of personal liberty.

Christian (left) and Mason Butler were refused bail after allegedly assaulting a couple on a camping trip.

All three men appeared before Deputy Chief Judge Tanya Fong Lim on Friday with the goal of getting bail.

The Butlers were both represented by lawyer Luke McLaughlin who said they each had no criminal history.

“They’re both here today, mother and father are in court from Groote and they have no criminal history whatsoever,” McLaughlin said.

“They have an appropriate residence in Darwin which would very importantly take them away from Groote Eylandt where the complainants are located and the allegations have taken place.

“I’m happy to suggest they will not reoffend in any way, shape or form.”

However, Ms Fong Lim denied both Butlers bail.

“The case against the Butlers is a strong case and they will be looking at some significant time in prison,” she said.

“I am not of the view that restrictive bail conditions are going to protect (the victims) from further approaches.

“It would be naive of the court to think that young people who have better knowledge of online social media will not use that particular medium to stay in contact with each other.”

Mamarika was represented by NAAJA lawyer Bryce Wilson who argued his client had played a much less serious role in the alleged violence.

Ms Fong Lim accepted his bail application issuing a non-contact order with the victims and disallowing him from travelling to Groote, CDU or the Palmerston suburb of Rosebery.

“This is incredibly serious offending, if you’re found guilty of these charges you’re going to be facing significant terms of imprisonment,” she said.

“You are a young person who’s never been in trouble before and your involvement in this offending seems to be very much on the peripheral.”

All three men will return to Darwin Local Court on June 7.

Originally published as Details emerge on how trio tracked down camping couple prior to alleged assault