NT: Boys help police catch alleged murderer
02 Mar 2009 1:37 PM
DARWIN, March 2 AAP - Police have praised two teenage boys who stopped a man engaged in a brutal assault on a woman near a mangrove-lined creek in Darwin.
The woman later died from her injuries in Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH).
A 47-year-old man has been charged with her murder.
The teenagers were playing near the Rapid Creek Bridge on Casuarina Drive about 3.50pm (CST) on Saturday when they heard thumping and the woman's screams, police said.
"They were drawn to the area ... when they heard screaming," said Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Pollock from the Major Crime Section.
"It says a lot about kids. Obviously, they received a lot of adverse publicity but this is an occasion where they did everything right.
"Of course, we're pleased at their actions and we're pleased with the fact they were able to assist us."
Det Snr Sgt Pollock told ABC radio in Darwin the man initially tried to intimidate the boys, but he stopped when a cyclist pulled over.
"They also, of course, assisted in ensuring that the man was basically kept at the scene until police arrived, enabling him to be taken into custody," he said.
The 49-year-old woman was taken to RDH where she later died.
Sgt Pollock said an autopsy would be conducted on Monday to determine the exact cause of her death.
Police charged the alleged attacker with murder and remanded him in custody to appear in Darwin Magistrates Court on Monday.
