An 18-year-old who turned himself into police following the alleged stabbing death of Darwin supermarket owner was already on bail for serious offences.
Canadian-born Linford Feich, 71, ran the Friendly Grocer Nightcliff Supermarket in the city’s west, where he was allegedly attacked on Wednesday evening after he confronted a teenage shoplifter.
Customers at the store, which included at least one doctor, performed first aid and CPR until paramedics arrived but he died at the scene.
The alleged teenage offender left the scene on a bicycle and after an extensive police manhunt, the alleged offender turned himself in shortly after midnight.
He is understood to come from the Daly region, 50km southwest of Darwin.
The 18-year-old is already on bail for three counts of rape and two counts of aggravated assault and had been banned from the Darwin CBD, but was not required to wear an ankle bracelet, reported The n.
He has also previously been charged with sexual intercourse with a child under 16, depriving a person of their personal liberty, assaulting and resisting police, and spitting on an officer or emergency worker.
‘A 71-year-old owner of the store allegedly confronted the male and asked him to return the items before the male allegedly stabbed him with an edged weapon and fled the scene on a bicycle,’ an NT police spokesperson said.
Distraught onlookers recalled hearing shouting before the store owner was stabbed.
‘As soon as we entered we heard the voice (of the man), he tried to kick (him out), while (he was) stealing things,’ one woman told the NT News.
‘Two staff members directed him to the door and suddenly (he allegedly) took out a knife and stabbed the man … and he collapsed.’
She said she called emergency services about 5.17pm to report the man’s injuries.
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro of the Country Liberals assumed government in August last year with a focus on cracking down on rampant crime in the Territory.
She issued a video statement to social media on Wednesday night.
‘It is devastating that we are at this point, again,’ Mrs Finocchiaro said.
‘Our focus right now is on the welfare of the family … every Territorian knows this not okay, and we reinforce our commitment that everything is on the table.
‘The police and I will have more to say as the situation unfolds.’
Just two months after Ms Finocchiaro took office, her government successfully passed legislation to lower the age of criminal responsibility back to 10 years.
It also enacted tougher bail laws for violent offenders, which had been sparked by the death of bottle shop worker Declan Laverty, who was killed by a 19-year-old on bail for aggravated robbery and assault.
Ms Finocchiaro also put in seven requests to the Commonwealth for assistance to tackle crime in the NT.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committed to one of them – the easing of federal laws to allow the use of police drones.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton agreed ‘in principal’ to the other six, which includes more income management for parents of youth offenders and kids who do not attend school.
NT politicians issued condolences to Mr Feich’s family.
‘My thoughts are with the family whose lives have been impacted by this senseless attack and the first responders who rendered assistance,’ federal Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said.
‘The Territory community is with you.’
Arnhem MP Selena Uibo added: ‘While more details are yet to emerge, one thing is clear – this kind of senseless violence has no place in our community.