Latest news with #NightcliffFriendlyGrocer
News.com.au
30-04-2025
- News.com.au
Spa owner backflips after ‘sugar addiction' rant following grocer's murder
The owner of an Australian spa has apologised after making a bizarre video claiming a 'sugar addiction' was behind the alleged murder of a beloved local grocer. Marii Oblescuk, who owns Cullen Bay Day Spa in Darwin, filmed herself at Linford Feick's memorial, suggesting the Nightcliff Friendly Grocer owner was stabbed to death at work because of his sweet tooth. Eighteen-year-old Phillip Parry has been charged with the grocer's murder. It is alleged he was stealing items from the store when Mr Feick, 71, confronted him. She posted the video to her business' Facebook page on Thursday afternoon, less than a day after Mr Feick's death, according to NT News. Ms Oblescuk's comments were in response to community speculation that the stolen item may have included a bottle of soft drink. 'We can point the finger at the judicial system, the government for not being tougher on crime, but the root cause was this kid was addicted to sugar,' Ms Oblescuk claimed in her controversial clip. She also described sugar as a 'toxin' that impacts the brain. The video, which was deleted after widespread backlash, had been viewed over 35,000 times and circulated widely on local Facebook groups. Following criticism over the video's timing and content, Ms Oblescuk repeated her views on the Cullen Bay Day Spa Instagram page, commenting on a 2023 post by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro. In her comments, she urged people to 'wake up and stop companies from killing us with their toxic products,' and further stated that sugar and energy drinks were 'killing people and causing trauma to the rest of the community.' One social media user responded: 'Take your sugar debate elsewhere, someone's life has just been taken and a family AND a community are mourning the loss due to this tragic event. How dare you.' On Saturday, Ms Oblescuk posted a follow-up video in which she apologised. 'From the bottom of my heart, I did not mean to disrespect anyone,' she said. She also criticised the legal system and said she planned to write to the Chief Minister with alternative proposals. 'We're not perfect, I'm also going through menopause, and could go through brain fog a few times, and not remember what I'm saying or be as coherent as I want to be,' she said. 'I'm sorry, I did not mean to offend anyone and please find it in your heart to forgive, and so we can move on and find a solution and rebuild our territory.' Speaking to the NT News, Ms Oblescuk said her intention was to 'inspire positive change' and offer alternative approaches to addressing crime in the Northern Territory. 'We have a responsibility (as business owners) to protect our staff and customers,' she said.
Perth Now
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Post-stabbing bail reforms 'won't keep community safe'
A beloved store owner's fatal stabbing has sparked calls for more to be done to prevent another tragedy in a crime-hit territory. Tough bail reforms are set to be ushered in by the Northern Territory government after 71-year-old Darwin store owner Linford Feick was stabbed to death. However, the NT opposition has called for the territory's justice system to be strengthened further, saying violent offenders "must face the consequences of their actions much sooner". The NT parliament will urgently reconvene on Wednesday to pass bail reform legislation after a teenager was charged with murder over the fatal stabbing. Police said the 18-year-old - identified by media outlets as Phillip Randel Maurice Parry - had been on bail for "serious matters" at the time. NT Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said the government's tough bail reforms would be supported but believed more had to be done. "These changes alone will not keep our community safe," she said in a statement. "More must be done to prevent crime in the first place and our justice system needs to be better resourced to deal with matters swiftly." Changes required included expanding court and legal aid services' capacity to ensure matters were heard as quickly as possible, Ms Uibo said. "It is currently taking over 400 days on average for a criminal matter to be finalised in the Supreme Court - this is too long," she said. "There are now more people in prison on remand - waiting for their court hearing - than there are convicted criminals serving sentences. "This is placing enormous strain on our courts and legal system." The NT's prison population has reportedly risen by more than 500 people since the Country Liberal Party won the 2024 election with a tough-on-crime agenda. New bail reforms will be modelled on Victorian and NSW laws, under which a judge must be satisfied an offender is not going to pose a risk to the community if granted bail. Mr Feick allegedly confronted a thief and was stabbed at the Nightcliff Friendly Grocer on April 23. It comes after Darwin bottle shop worker Declan Laverty was fatally stabbed by a man on bail in 2023, which also ushered in law changes. "No Territory family should ever have to endure the loss of a loved one through senseless violence, as the Feick family is now facing," Ms Uibo said.
News.com.au
29-04-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Northern Territory day spa owner apologises after suggesting ‘sugar addiction' was behind alleged murder of shop owner
A Northern Territory business owner has apologised after posting a video claiming sugar addiction was behind the alleged murder of Nightcliff Friendly Grocer owner Linford Feick. Marii Oblescuk, who owns Cullen Bay Day Spa, filmed herself at the memorial outside the store and claimed the alleged murder occurred because the accused was 'addicted to sugar.' She posted the video to the spa's Facebook page on Thursday afternoon, less than a day after Mr Feick's death. Ms Oblescuk's comments were in response to community speculation that the stolen item may have included a bottle of soft drink. 'We can point the finger at the judicial system, the government for not being tougher on crime, but the root cause was this kid was addicted to sugar,' Ms Oblescuk said in the video. Eighteen-year-old Phillip Parry has been charged with murder. It is alleged he was stealing items from the store when Mr Feick, 71, confronted him. She also described sugar as a 'toxin' that impacts the brain. The video, which was deleted after widespread backlash, had been viewed over 35,000 times and circulated widely on local Facebook groups. Following criticism over the video's timing and content, Ms Oblescuk repeated her views on the Cullen Bay Day Spa Instagram page, commenting on a 2023 post by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro. In her comments, she urged people to 'wake up and stop companies from killing us with their toxic products,' and further stated that sugar and energy drinks were 'killing people and causing trauma to the rest of the community.' One social media user responded: 'Take your sugar debate elsewhere, someone's life has just been taken and a family AND a community are mourning the loss due to this tragic event. How dare you.' On Saturday, Ms Oblescuk posted a follow-up video in which she apologised. 'From the bottom of my heart, I did not mean to disrespect anyone,' she said. She also criticised the legal system and said she planned to write to the Chief Minister with alternative proposals. 'We're not perfect, I'm also going through menopause, and could go through brain fog a few times, and not remember what I'm saying or be as coherent as I want to be,' she said. 'I'm sorry, I did not mean to offend anyone and please find it in your heart to forgive, and so we can move on and find a solution and rebuild our territory.' Speaking to the NT News, Ms Oblescuk said her intention was to 'inspire positive change' and offer alternative approaches to addressing crime in the Northern Territory. 'We have a responsibility (as business owners) to protect our staff and customers,' she said.
Perth Now
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Fewer people to be bailed after shop owner's stabbing
Fewer people are set to be released on bail in the Northern Territory under tough laws triggered by a shop owner's fatal stabbing. The NT parliament will reconvene on Wednesday to pass legislation after a teenager was arrested following 71-year-old Darwin store owner Linford Feick's fatal stabbing. The 18-year-old, who was out on bail for "serious matters", handed himself in to police on Thursday morning but has not been charged. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she wanted the NT to have the country's toughest bail laws. "We're making sure we are taking strong action right now … and with these changes, we should see less people bailed," Ms Finocchiaro said. "If you do the wrong thing, we'll find a bed for you in a prison." The legislation will be modelled on Victorian and NSW laws, under which a judge must be satisfied that an offender is not going to pose a risk to the community if granted bail. A community is reeling after Mr Feick allegedly confronted a thief and was stabbed at the Nightcliff Friendly Grocer about 5.15pm on Wednesday. It comes after Darwin bottle shop worker Declan Laverty was fatally stabbed by a man on bail in 2023, which also ushered in bail law changes. Under Declan's Law, electronic monitoring devices became mandatory for repeat offenders granted bail and the scope of offences triggering a presumption against bail was expanded. "Territorians are angry, sad, they are frustrated and they are asking themselves when will enough be enough," Ms Finocchiaro said. The union representing retail staff said more had to be done to protect workers in the NT. "Nobody should go to work and not come home," the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association's Josh Peak told AAP. "Two violent deaths in the retail sector in the Northern Territory in the last two years shows that more must be done to keep workers safe." The NT's prison population has reportedly risen by more than 500 people since the Country Liberal Party won the 2024 election with a tough-on-crime agenda. Meanwhile, floral tributes have been laid outside the Nightcliff shop, with an outpouring of grief on social media. Mr Feick's wife Margaret described her husband as "a beautiful man, a true gentleman and my soulmate". "I am sitting here at 3am too broken to go to sleep because my life has been shattered," she wrote on Facebook. "My beautiful husband of 51 years was stolen from me, his children and his seven grandchildren."
West Australian
24-04-2025
- West Australian
Nightcliff Friendly Grocer owner Linford Feick allegedly stabbed to death by teenager out on bail at time
A teenager who handed himself in after the fatal stabbing of a Darwin grocery store owner was reportedly out on bail for a series of alleged violent offences and had been banned from the CBD at the time. Linford Feick, 71, was working at his Nightcliff Friendly Grocer on Wednesday around 5.15pm when a confrontation with an alleged shoplifter turned deadly. Police say Mr Feick had asked a teenager to return items that he believed were stolen, but the teen allegedly stabbed him with an edged weapon before fleeing on a bicycle. Patrons provided first aid and emergency services carried out CPR, but the 71-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. A witness told the NT News that as she entered the store, she heard a man's voice trying to kick someone out. 'As soon as we entered we heard the voice (of the man), he tried to kick (him out), while (he was) stealing things,' she said. 'Two staff members directed him to the door and suddenly (he) took out a knife and stabbed the man … and he collapsed.' Police say the 18-year-old was taken into custody after he handed himself into Palmerston Police Station at 12.35am on Thursday. He has not yet been charged. Police have confirmed the teenager was on bail with conditions to remain in a remote Territory community and did not have an electronic monitoring bracelet as a condition of his bail . The Australian has reported he was already facing a long list of charges including for aggravated assault and rape at the time of the grocery store stabbing. He appeared in Northern Territory Supreme Court last week where his bail was continued on two counts of aggravated assault and three counts of rape. He had also been charged with depriving a person of their personal liberty, sexual intercourse with a child under 16, assaulting and resisting police and spitting on an officer or emergency worker. In a Facebook post, Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said her government's current focus was on the welfare of the man's family. 'It is devastating that we are at this point again,' she said. 'Every Territorian knows that this is not okay and we reinforce our commitment that everything is on the table.' The death comes about two years after the murder of bottle shop worker Declan Laverty, who was killed while on shift at a BWS near Darwin airport. His killing by a man who was out on bail prompted a tightening of laws under Ms Finocchiaro's government. Mr Fieck's wife Margaret took to social media early on Thursday to pay tribute to her husband, who she described as a 'true gentleman and my soulmate'. 'My beautiful husband of 51 years was stolen from me, his children and his seven grandchildren,' a post on Facebook reads. 'This is so hurtful.' 'The trauma it has caused to the beautiful staff who we love as family, the trauma to our beautiful customers, Linford worked so sincerely to maintain the community vibe with smiles, trust and humanity. 'A beautiful man, a true gentleman, and my soulmate. Gone forever. God Bless Him. RIP my darling man.' His son Ben told The Australian Mr Feick's violent death was the family's 'worst nightmare come true'. 'This is something that has been a reality to us for a long time.' Locals say they are heartbroken by his shock death. One told Newswire they were '(gutted) that this could happen to such a great family who provide our community with such (an) essential service'. — with AAP
