Beloved Nightcliff Friendly Grocer owner Linford Feick, 71, honoured by friends, business partners at Nightcliff Markets

Hundreds of shoppers and vendors gathered at the Nightcliff Markets on Sunday morning, with many honouring Mr Feick, the 71-year-old owner of the Nightcliff Friendly Grocer who was stabbed in broad daylight while at work. Read what people had to say.

Using chalkboards, workers asked shoppers to be kind before entering. Picture: Thomas McLean

Tang Chea May was lost for words when the tragic news broke of Linford Feick’s death.

She was just down the road at the time of the alleged stabbing, maybe as few as 30 metres away.

It was simply heartbreaking, she said, visibly shaking as she spoke to the NT News at yesterday’s Nightcliff markets.

“I’ve known him for 25 years; he always spoke with a soft voice, and he would never have hurt anyone,” Ms May said as she held back tears.

“He was a very good man; he was a very good person.”

Hundreds gathered at the Nightcliff Markets. Picture: Thomas McLean

She was not alone in her feelings either; hundreds of shoppers and vendors gathered at the Nightcliff Markets on Sunday morning, with many honouring Mr Feick, the 71-year-old owner of the Nightcliff Friendly Grocer who was allegedly stabbed in broad daylight while at work.

It also marked the first time the grocer has reopened its doors to the public since the horror alleged stabbing.

At least three NT Police officers could been seen patrolling the markets on Sunday.

NT Police officers patrolled the Nightcliff Markets for hours. Picture: Thomas McLean

Throughout the morning, vendors and members of the public shared their feelings with the NT News and suggested what action they would like to see taken in the future.

Ms May, who alleges she was left with bruises to the chest after a man jabbed her with a stick at her stall only a few months ago, said she wanted to see more security and police presence on the ground.

“Kids come every week and they take whatever they want and get away with it,” she said.

“I’m scared, I’m not confident; we need police or security presence for our safety and to stop this level of crime.

“I don’t want something like this to ever happen again.”

Datto, better known to the public as 'Mr Bloody Datto', and his bird, Buddy, at the Nightcliff Markets. Picture: Thomas McLean

Datto, a long-time resident of the Top End who has been going to the Nightcliff Markets for a number of years, said he was “gutted” after he learned of Mr Feick’s death.

“It was unbelievable; I shouted, ‘What?’ when I found out,” he said.

“I’m still blown away.”

He said rehabilitation, particularly for violent offenders, “simply isn’t good enough” and suggested courts have been “too soft” with granting bail.

It comes after NT Police confirmed the 18-year-old who allegedly murdered Mr Feick was on bail at the time of his arrest.

Instead, he said he would like to see tougher punishments in the future for those accused of violent offences.

The Nightcliff Grocer reopened to the public on Sunday. Picture: Thomas McLean

Hey Dahl owner Noel D’Souza, who began trading at the Nightcliff Markets less than a month ago, said the alleged stabbing was “very concerning” to see and, similar to Datto, said the courts and government had to “step it up”.

The government’s solutions were regressive, he said, but acknowledged there was no easy fix to crime.

“Reducing the age of criminal responsibility has just made it worse; these kids make gangs and what they do is they set up the eight and nine-year-olds to do the work for them because it doesn’t mean anything if they get caught,” he said.

Originally published as Beloved Nightcliff Friendly Grocer owner Linford Feick, 71, honoured by friends, business partners at Nightcliff Markets