Darwin’s public buildings throw open their doors
ALMOST all the seats in Courtroom Three are filled as the crowd listens intently to the man being questioned.
Did he hit a man, smashing his jaw and leaving him in hospital for three weeks?
And if he did, why did he do it? Was the man groping the alleged attacker’s wife?
What if he was? Does that make it OK?
But this court case was a little different from most heard in the Supreme Court.
It was a mock trial, with members of the public working as guards, and kids on the jury.
The aim was to teach members of the public how sentencing worked when it came to criminal trials.
In the end, the attacker was found guilty and sentenced to two years jail.
However, thanks to the circumstances around the punch, he was only required to serve six months’ home detention with the rest suspended.
The trial was part of a series of open days at Northern Territory public buildings including the Supreme Court, Parliament House and Government House.
Jill Turner headed along to the courtroom to watch the drama unfold. “I’d never been in a court before so I loved the mock trial,” she said. “Days like today are important so people can have an insight into the judicial system up here. I know nothing about it so it’s all so interesting.”
At Government House, most people were enjoying the gardens.
Scott and Sue Burnett said they loved the “beautiful” property.
“We drive past it all the time and have always wanted to come inside,” Ms Burnett said.
“(Yesterday) we were driving past and saw it was open and thought, ‘It’s our chance’,” Mr Burnett added.
NT Administrator Vicki O’Halloran said it was “wonderful” to share her home with the people of the Northern Territory.