1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Pretty disturbing news, of course, from overnight, we know that 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: it is indeed being reported that an elderly man is 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,559 Speaker 1: fighting for his life after suffering severe head injuries in 4 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: an alleged assault in Alice Springs. Now joining me on 5 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: the line right now is the Assistant Commissioner in Alice Springs, 6 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:21,120 Speaker 1: Martin Dole. Good morning to your assistant commissioner. Good morning, Katie, 7 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time this morning. Talk us 8 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: through what happened last night. 9 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, Katie, So about half past nine last night, police 10 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 2: Communications in daw And received a call in relation to 11 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 2: a male that had been assaulted on Gap Road. The 12 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 2: call was in relation to requesting an ambulance. So Saint 13 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 2: John's attended at that incident and they located a male 14 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 2: and a female there and the male had suffered a 15 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 2: severe head injury. They took him to hospital and later 16 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 2: we advised that that injury was significantly serious and that 17 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,959 Speaker 2: there was some concerns for that male. So we went 18 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 2: and established a crime and we've got detectives working on 19 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 2: that currently. 20 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,479 Speaker 1: Martin. Do we have any idea of how old this 21 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: gentleman was. 22 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 2: Yes, Katie, so it's a sixty seven year old Indigenous 23 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 2: male and currently he's recorded as being stable with suspected 24 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 2: injuries of bleeding on the brain, a fractured skull, and 25 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 2: there's some discussion that he may be medivactor adelaide this today. 26 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: Oh, that is horrendous. Do we have any idea what's 27 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:28,680 Speaker 1: going on? 28 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 2: So we don't, Katie. This is very early in the investigation. 29 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 2: As I said, we were called at the request for 30 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 2: an ambulance. We weren't called for a disturbance of fighting. 31 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 2: Saint John's attended and conveyed that mail to hospital and 32 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 2: we later found out that the injuries are a result 33 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 2: of what appears to be a very serious assault. So 34 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 2: we've got crime taken carriage of that and they're conducting 35 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 2: investigations as we speak to try and identify exactly what happened. 36 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, all right, Martin, talk us through exactly where it 37 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: happened and what time of the day. 38 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 2: So this was reported to us at nine thirty five 39 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 2: last night and it was on Gap Road in the 40 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: vicinity of Jiho Restaurant, which is very near the ABC studios. 41 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: Okay, and from your perspective, now, from a police perspective, 42 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: what are the next steps in this investigation, so. 43 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 2: We've got detectives, a team of detectives working on that 44 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 2: this morning. Obviously, we always call for assistance from the public. 45 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 2: If anybody witnessed any incidents in that area yesterday evening. 46 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 2: It doesn't have to be at nine thirty five, it 47 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 2: could be in the hours before that, any unusual behavior 48 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 2: or fighting. If anyone is aware of CCTV in that 49 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,399 Speaker 2: area or driving past and saw anybody being assaulted, we'd 50 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 2: urge them to contact police and let us know what 51 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 2: you saw. 52 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, look, I know that we do have a lot 53 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: of people that listened to the show down in Alas Springs. 54 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: Assistant Commissioner. What you said there with that bleeding on 55 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: the brain and also a fractured skull, I believe you said. 56 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 1: I mean, it must be pretty concerning to you to 57 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: see an assault which seems to be of such a 58 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: severe nature. 59 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:09,519 Speaker 2: O Katie, absolutely concerning a horrific description of injuries. Any 60 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,079 Speaker 2: assaults on people are just not shouldn't be tolerated, and 61 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 2: this type of violent behavior shouldn't be tolerated, not in 62 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 2: our springs, not anywhere in the Northern Territory. 63 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: And do we have any idea at this point in time. 64 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: I know it's still early days, as you've said, but 65 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: any idea at this point in time as to whether 66 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: you know the victim was known to those who have 67 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:30,519 Speaker 1: you know, who have assaulted him. 68 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 2: Look, Katie, I just don't have that information. I'm really 69 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 2: not sure that we're we're aware of where exactly that 70 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 2: assoul of code or who was involved. So I don't 71 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 2: have those details to be able to give you this morning. 72 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: Yeah. No, we appreciate your time. I know it's on 73 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: very short notice and you know, with limited detail at 74 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: this point with that investigation very much underway. So Assistant 75 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: Commissioner Martin Dole, we appreciate your time. Thank you very 76 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: much for having a quick chat with us. 77 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 2: Thanks, Katie, I'm happy to talk to you at any 78 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 2: stage about Alice Springs from what's going on in the 79 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 2: region down here. 80 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, we'd be keen to catch up at another point 81 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: if we can about you know, some of the other 82 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: issues that have occurred, but we we might we might 83 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: leave it for another day, if that's all right, Assistant Commissioner. 84 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, Katie. Thank you talk about the workout police are. 85 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: Doing so thank you wonderful. Thank you very much.