More patrols at CBD flats
Death at Smith St units prompt government action
PUBLIC housing safety officers will step up patrols of the Tomaris Court Flats on Smith St, after the death of a 45-yearold man on Friday morning.
Multiple sources have told the Sunday Territorian the man was a well-known Traditional Owner from the Papunya community in Central Australia. The man’s name is not being published out of respect for cultural practices.
The man’s alleged attacker, a 30-year-old man, will appear in court on Monday charged with three counts of aggravated assault.
About 12.30am on Friday police were called to a public housing complex on Smith St.
A 45-year-old man was declared deceased at the scene a short time after police arrived.
Two other people are alleged to have been assaulted in the disturbance.
PUBLIC housing safety officers will step up patrols of the Tomaris Court Flats on Smith St, after the death of a 45-yearold man on Friday morning.
Multiple sources have told the Sunday Territorian the man was a well-known Traditional Owner from the Papunya community in Central Australia. The man’s name is not being published out of respect for cultural practices.
The man’s alleged attacker, a 30-year-old man, will appear in court on Monday charged with three counts of aggravated assault.
About 12.30am on Friday police were called to a public housing complex on Smith St.
A 45-year-old man was declared deceased at the scene a short time after police arrived.
Two other people are alleged to have been assaulted in the disturbance.
Residents in the unit complex on Friday said they heard screaming and commotion emanating from the unit.
Many were scathing of authorities for failing to properly crackdown on anti-social behaviour.
It is understood patrolling officers from the Department of Urban Housing had not redflagged the complex for antisocial behaviour in previous weeks.
More patrols will be conducted of the Tomaris Court Flats due to the death.
Despite residents criticising her department, Territory Families and Urban Housing Minister Kate Worden said she was confident the model for delivering public housing in the NT would “tackle disruptive behaviour”.
“Fourteen Public Housing Safety Officers operate in Darwin and Palmerston, seven days per week, from 7.30am to 2.30am, working with tenants, neighbours, other government staff and visitors to prevent and respond to anti-social behaviour,” Ms Worden said.
Neighbours who witnessed the events unfold in the early hours of Friday morning said they heard screaming and crying children and shouting.
One resident said Urban Housing was not listening to tenants’ concerns.
“The anti-social behaviour here is overwhelming,” the woman said.
“There was domestic shouting and screaming last night, and children screaming for hours, and no one came out,” she said.