Corey Lemon refused bail at Darwin Local Court for alleged DV, assault police

A man accused of assaulting a woman days after he was handed a suspended sentence has made a bid for freedom – arguing he wished to be reunited with his dying mother.

On Friday, Corey Lemon appeared in Darwin Local Court by video link. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A man accused of assaulting a woman days after he was handed a suspended sentence has made a bid for freedom – arguing he wished to be reunited with his dying mother.

On Friday, Corey Lemon appeared in Darwin Local Court via video link charged with aggravated assault, assaulting police, resisting police, contravening a domestic violence order, escaping from lawful custody, disarming a member and intending serious harm.

A large cohort of Mr Lemon’s family was also present in the court.

Mr Lemon’s lawyer told the court her client wanted to reunite with his dying mother.

“The basis of this bail application is that my client’s mother, who’s present in the body of the court, is gravely ill,” she said.

The court heard Mr Lemon was willing to not consume alcohol, avoid the Daly River region and abide by a domestic violence order.

It was also heard Mr Lemon was willing to be assessed for community corrections supervision and possibly wear an electronic monitoring device.

“(It) would provide an additional layer of support to ensure my client is complying with those conditions, for both the victim and the community-at-large.”

The prosecution said they “strongly” opposed bail.

Judge Stephen Geary noted the allegations occurred just days after he handed Mr Lemon a suspended sentence. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Judge Stephen Geary noted the most recent allegations occurred days after he handed Mr Lemon a suspended sentence – involving the same victim.

“His history over the last couple of years is poor.”

However, Mr Lemon’s lawyer maintained the strongest “mitigating” factor if her client was granted bail was the health of his mother.

“He knows that if he so much as steps a toe out of line he won’t be able to be with his mother on her last days,” she said.

“This will have a significant deterrent effect for this man whose key priorities are culture and family – I’m not speaking about a distant family member, we’re speaking about the one woman who raised her child.”

Judge Geary denied bail.

“The fact that the allegations occurred shortly after I gave him a suspended sentence for an assault on the same young lady … I just can’t take the risk.”

Mr Lemon waved to his mother before he left the video call.

Originally published as Corey Lemon refused bail at Darwin Local Court for alleged DV, assault police