Murder charges laid
A MAN charged with murder over the shooting death of another at a rural property near Katherine will face court on Monday.
The 38-year-old Aboriginal man is accused of fatally shooting a 26-year-old Indigenous man on Thursday morning outside a ranger’s home near the Cutta Cutta Caves.
In a statement late Friday night, NT Police said the man had been charged with a single count of murder and would be placed on remand until a court hearing on Monday. The alleged shooting took place outside the Cutta Cutta Caves rangers’ residence in the early hours of Thursday morning.
It is unknown as to why the 26-year-old entered the rangers’ residence or if both parties knew each other, however the Sunday Territorian understands the alleged shooter is part of a large, well-known Katherine family.
A source told the Sunday Territorian the man has “strong connection to family and Country down that way, and is a big part of the community”.
The family of the man who was shot also has links to Darwin and Katherine communities.
Police confirmed the crime scene, located within the boundaries of the national park, was no longer active.
It is understood the man who was shot had been a client at Venndale, as part of mandatory bail conditions.
The Sunday Territorian was told, however, he was not there “under any corrections orders.”
Venndale Rehabilitation Centre is run by Kalano Community Association Aboriginal Corporation and offers both voluntary and mandated residential programs.
Kalano chief executive Alan Mole said the entire circumstance had been “tragic”.
He passed on his condolences to both parties.
Since the incident, police have interviewed Kalano staff and neighbours of the property in Venn, the suburb where Cutta Cutta Caves is located.
One neighbour told the Sunday Territorian “police weren’t giving too much away”.
The man was interviewed
by police on Thursday, however he said police were reluctant to tell him exactly what had occurred.
According to locals, the community has been “shaken” by the events of the week.