Jared Gurruwiwi, Brendan Marrtjiku plead over causing death of Milingimbi man at Rapid Creek

A teenager and an older man relentlessly chased a Milingimbi man before bashing him in a suburban Darwin car park, a court has heard.

An intoxicated man was relentlessly chased down by a group of men before being bashed and kicked in the head in a brutal car park brawl, a court has heard.

Jared Gurruwiwi and Brendan Marrtjiku appeared in the Supreme Court in Darwin on Wednesday to plead guilty to their role in the fatal bashing of a 39-year-old man at the Rapid Creek Business Village in March 2023.

Both men pleaded guilty to committing a violent act causing the death of the Millingimbi man, who cannot be named for cultural reasons.

A third man, Joseph Wunungmurra has been charged with murder, with the alternative charges of committing a violent act causing death and recklessly endangering serious harm, and will face a pre-trial hearing on January 28, 2025.

On Wednesday Justice Sonia Brownhill heard that then 18-year-old Gurruwiwi, 33-year-old Marrtjiku, and their victim were drinking together for hours at the Rapid Creek car park on the day of the attack.

Justice Brownhill heard that an argument broke out and the 39-year-old was asked to leave the group, but he instead took off his belt and threatened them with it, before striking Marrtjiku to the head.

“(He) walked away from the group quickly, and was still angry,” Prosecutor Tamara Grealy said.

CCTV captured the older man walking around the car park holding a belt in his hand, and was seen “muttering and swearing to himself”.

Ms Grealy alleged that Gurruwiwi, Marrtjiku and Mr Wunungmurra “formed an agreement” to attack the older man.

CCTV allegedly from the moments surrounding a fatal assault at Rapid Creek Shopping Village on Tuesday night, March 7. Picture: Supplied

CCTV captured a group repeatedly chasing the 39-year-old, who attempted to seek refuge and hide from his attackers in nearby streets and front gardens.

The court heard that neighbours who saw the chase yelled out “look out, run”, while people in their car watched helplessly as the group caught up with the victim outside the Happy Foodland around 8.30pm.

The 39-year-old was pushed to the ground before Gurruwiwi and Marrtjiku started kicking him in the stomach, back and head.

It is alleged the third co-accused, Mr Wunungmurra was holding two sticks and used these as part of the beating.

“The deceased initially tried to protect himself, but then soon stopped moving,” Ms Grealy said.

The Rapid Creek Business Village. Picture: Annabel Bowles

As they walked away, the 18-year-old picked up a stick and threw it at the now unconscious and bleeding man.

It was alleged that Mr Wunungmurra remained near the victim and “stomping with force on his head”, and briefly left before returning with a stick and beat the 39-year-old man once again.

After the attack witnesses attempted to revive him and called triple-0, but the 39-year-old passed away an hour later.

The court also heard that just five days before the killing 18-year-old Gurruwiwi robbed a Casuarina liquor store by walking out with a shopping trolley piled with $185 worth of booze — including two cartons of Great Northern and four bottles of wine — and had armed himself with a bottle of chardonnay to threaten those in his path.

The Rapid Creek Business Village where a man, believed to be in his 40s, was allegedly assaulted and later died from his injuries at the scene. Picture: Annabel Bowles

Justice Brownhill was told the Elcho Island teenager had a completely clean criminal history until he was exposed to alcohol when he arrived in Darwin

Gurruwiwi and Marrtjiku’s defence teams have requested pre-sentence reports assessing their suitability for release and what supports may be in the community, given they had already spent 18-months on remand.

The matter was adjourned to October 31 for sentencing.

Originally published as Jared Gurruwiwi, Brendan Marrtjiku plead over causing death of Milingimbi man at Rapid Creek