NT parliament urgently reconvenes to pass new bail laws after fatal Nightcliff stabbing

Australia Broadcast Center

29-04-2025

The Northern Territory parliament will reconvene for an urgent session today to introduce and pass new bail laws in response to the fatal stabbing of a Darwin supermarket owner.
Linford Feick, 71, died at his Nightcliff grocery store last Wednesday after Phillip Randel Maurice Parry, who was on bail at the time, allegedly attacked him with an edged weapon.
Police said Mr Feick had confronted Mr Parry about shoplifting before the 18-year-old allegedly stabbed him.
Linford Feick was fatally stabbed while working in his Nightcliff store.
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ABC News: Laetitia Lemke
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Mr Parry
Mr Feick's death has sent shockwaves through the Darwin community, sparking widespread sadness and anger.
Phillip Randel Maurice Parry has been charged with murder.
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In response to the alleged murder, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro last week requested parliament be recalled so that "urgent" bail legislation could be introduced and passed, with a sitting day arranged for today.
Ms Finocchiaro said she wanted the territory to have the "toughest bail laws in the country".
"I think Territorians will agree that this is very urgent and important work that must be done," she said.
Lia Finocchiaro asked for parliament to be recalled urgently in the wake of the incident.
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ABC News: Pete Garnish
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Legislation to be based on Victorian, NSW laws
Outlining the proposed changes last week, Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said an overarching legal principle would be established, requiring judges to be satisfied that an alleged offender would not pose a risk to the community if granted bail.
"That overarching principle must be addressed and considered before any other type of presumption for or against bail is considered," she said.
Ms Boothby said the changes would be based on laws in Victoria and New South Wales.
Marie-Clare Boothby says the bail changes will make the community safer.
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ABC News: Pete Garnish
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The Country Liberal Party (CLP) took power in the NT in August last year following an election campaign centred on tough-on-crime measures.
Key to its platform was "Declan's Law" —
The laws were named after Declan Laverty, a 20-year-old bottle shop worker who was fatally stabbed at work by a man on bail in 2023.
Declan's Law expanded the presumption against bail for various violent offences and reintroduced breach of bail as an offence for children aged 10 to 17, with the aim of keeping more alleged offenders on remand.
Declan's Law is named after Declan Laverty, who was killed while working at a bottle shop.
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Ms Finocchiaro said Declan's Law was "working", but the new legislation would "strengthen" it.
"What we are really trying to do is make sure our laws meet that community expectation," she said.
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Whilst judges do require a level of discretion ... we're confident it could really set a strong benchmark for community safety.
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Since the CLP was elected, the territory's prison population
Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley acknowledged the proposed bail changes would put further pressure on the NT's strained corrections system, but said the government was prepared to create another 5,000 prison beds if necessary.