Deadly confrontation inside a shop reignites fierce bail law debate
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Bail laws are designed to strike a balance between protecting public safety and upholding legal rights—but when tragedy strikes, that balance can be called into question.
In the Northern Territory, a recent incident has prompted swift and significant political action.
What comes next could reshape the justice system in ways that echo across the country.
The Northern Territory parliament reconvened for an emergency sitting on 30 April to introduce strict new bail laws following the fatal stabbing of a Darwin shop owner.
Seventy-one-year-old Linford Feick was killed last week at his grocery store in Nightcliff, where police said he had confronted a teenager about shoplifting.
Eighteen-year-old Phillip Randel Maurice Parry, who was out on bail at the time, allegedly stabbed Mr Feick with an edged weapon during the altercation.
Mr Parry faced the Darwin Local Court on 28 April, where he was charged with murder, theft and trespassing.
Mr Feick’s death prompted widespread grief and anger in the community, with calls for urgent action to prevent similar incidents.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro called the incident ‘a senseless tragedy’ and requested that parliament be recalled to pass legislation she described as urgent.
She shared: ‘We’ve inherited an entire justice system—from the laws to the courts to the corrections — that has been putting the historical trauma of offenders above the rights of people to be safe.’
‘We’re trying to recorrect that, to make sure community safety is the number one priority.’
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby outlined the proposed legislation last week, explaining it would establish an overarching principle requiring courts to determine whether an alleged offender posed a risk to the community before considering 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 laws would draw on existing frameworks in Victoria and New South Wales but with tougher application.
Ms Finocchiaro clarified that, unlike in New South Wales where the principle only applies to youth, the NT would apply it to both youth and adults.
‘In New South Wales their prescribed offences it applies to is a rather short list, ours is a very long list of around 200 offences,’ she said.
The new legislation aimed to build upon Declan’s Law, which was passed after the CLP came to power in August 2023 on a platform focused on crime.
Declan’s Law was introduced after 20-year-old bottle shop worker Declan Laverty was fatally stabbed by a man on bail.
The legislation expanded the presumption against bail for a range of violent offences and reinstated breach of bail as an offence for children aged 10 to 17.
Ms Finocchiaro said: ‘What we are really trying to do is make sure our laws meet that community expectation.’
‘Whilst judges do require a level of discretion...we’re confident it could really set a strong benchmark for community safety.’
She also stated: ‘Declan’s Law is working’, but the current legislation would ‘strengthen’ it.
Since the CLP’s election, the NT’s prison population has increased by more than 500 people.
Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley acknowledged the pressure this placed on the corrections system but said the government was prepared to expand capacity.
He said they were willing to create up to 5,000 additional prison beds if needed to support the reforms.
In a previous story, we looked at the case that first triggered sweeping bail reforms in the territory.
That incident also involved a young worker fatally stabbed by a person on bail, sparking public outrage and political promises.
You can read more about that case to understand how it laid the groundwork for today’s developments.
With the Northern Territory pushing for the toughest bail laws in the country, do you think these changes will make communities safer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In the Northern Territory, a recent incident has prompted swift and significant political action.
What comes next could reshape the justice system in ways that echo across the country.
The Northern Territory parliament reconvened for an emergency sitting on 30 April to introduce strict new bail laws following the fatal stabbing of a Darwin shop owner.
Seventy-one-year-old Linford Feick was killed last week at his grocery store in Nightcliff, where police said he had confronted a teenager about shoplifting.
Eighteen-year-old Phillip Randel Maurice Parry, who was out on bail at the time, allegedly stabbed Mr Feick with an edged weapon during the altercation.
Shop owner killed during alleged shoplifting dispute. Image source: ABC News/Pete Garnish
Mr Parry faced the Darwin Local Court on 28 April, where he was charged with murder, theft and trespassing.
Mr Feick’s death prompted widespread grief and anger in the community, with calls for urgent action to prevent similar incidents.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro called the incident ‘a senseless tragedy’ and requested that parliament be recalled to pass legislation she described as urgent.
She shared: ‘We’ve inherited an entire justice system—from the laws to the courts to the corrections — that has been putting the historical trauma of offenders above the rights of people to be safe.’
‘We’re trying to recorrect that, to make sure community safety is the number one priority.’
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby outlined the proposed legislation last week, explaining it would establish an overarching principle requiring courts to determine whether an alleged offender posed a risk to the community before considering 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 laws would draw on existing frameworks in Victoria and New South Wales but with tougher application.
Ms Finocchiaro clarified that, unlike in New South Wales where the principle only applies to youth, the NT would apply it to both youth and adults.
‘In New South Wales their prescribed offences it applies to is a rather short list, ours is a very long list of around 200 offences,’ she said.
The new legislation aimed to build upon Declan’s Law, which was passed after the CLP came to power in August 2023 on a platform focused on crime.
Declan’s Law was introduced after 20-year-old bottle shop worker Declan Laverty was fatally stabbed by a man on bail.
The legislation expanded the presumption against bail for a range of violent offences and reinstated breach of bail as an offence for children aged 10 to 17.
Ms Finocchiaro said: ‘What we are really trying to do is make sure our laws meet that community expectation.’
‘Whilst judges do require a level of discretion...we’re confident it could really set a strong benchmark for community safety.’
She also stated: ‘Declan’s Law is working’, but the current legislation would ‘strengthen’ it.
Since the CLP’s election, the NT’s prison population has increased by more than 500 people.
Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley acknowledged the pressure this placed on the corrections system but said the government was prepared to expand capacity.
He said they were willing to create up to 5,000 additional prison beds if needed to support the reforms.
In a previous story, we looked at the case that first triggered sweeping bail reforms in the territory.
That incident also involved a young worker fatally stabbed by a person on bail, sparking public outrage and political promises.
You can read more about that case to understand how it laid the groundwork for today’s developments.
With the Northern Territory pushing for the toughest bail laws in the country, do you think these changes will make communities safer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
