Man charged with assault secures case stay amid Northern Territory legal aid funding crisis
A father accused of striking a woman with an iron bar obtained a stay of his trial after pleading inability to afford counsel, highlighting a widening legal-aid funding dispute in the Northern Territory.
In Darwin Local Court, a man charged with repeatedly hitting a woman with a metal bar secured a stay of proceedings after explaining he could not afford legal representation. He appeared without a lawyer because Legal Aid NT (LANT) has halted new criminal cases following a funding dispute with the Northern Territory government. Judge Ben O'Loughlin granted the stay, noting that a shift in Legal Aid's policy could alter the outcome.
The funding impasse has left many defendants, including those accused of serious offenses, without counsel and has delayed numerous cases, some involving child sexual abuse, for up to a year. Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said the government is negotiating a funding agreement, while LANT director Catherine Voumard announced stricter eligibility criteria for duty lawyers. Critics, including Beth Wild of the NT Criminal Lawyers Association, warn the crisis is eroding the entire justice system.
Why it matters
The story shows how legal-aid shortages can stall criminal trials, leaving victims without closure and alleged offenders free pending resolution.
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