DoubleTree by Hilton sting: Linda Barney comforts family of deceased woman at Darwin Hotel

Linda Burney recalled the harrowing moment she comforted the family of the woman allegedly stabbed outside the politician’s luxury hotel.

The Commonwealth Minister for Indigenous Peoples Australia says her staff desperately tried to save the life of a 51-year-old woman after she stumbled upon the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Darwin on Friday night seeking help.

A 56-year-old man believed to be the victim’s partner has been charged with murder.

It is foolish that the woman was in Darwin to visit her son in prison.

This is the Northern Territory’s latest tragedy, with a wave of crime including carjackings, assaults, robberies, and rampant police attacks in and around the capital.

Burney was in NT for two days when the alleged attack occurred outside his hotel.

 

The minister was staying at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Darwin on Friday night.

“Last night in Darwin, a woman was tragically killed after being allegedly stabbed outside the hotel where I was staying,” Mr Barney said in a statement on Saturday.

“Along with the hotel staff, a member of my staff helped the woman and I comforted her family.”

The victim was stabbed across the road on the Esplanade at 6 p.m. Friday before coming across the hotel’s ground floor reception area, NT police said.

Barney said her office and hotel staff rushed to the aid of the woman who was bleeding profusely before emergency services arrived.

The woman was taken to the Royal Darwin Hospital with life-threatening injuries, where she later died.

Parts of the Esplanade have closed after a fatal stabbing incident.

 

“Police and paramedics were called to the scene before 6pm after receiving information that an injured woman had entered the hotel to seek help,” NT police said.

A 56-year-old man believed to be the woman’s partner was arrested at the scene and charged with murder.

He remains in custody to appear in court on Monday.

“Police and paramedics were called to the scene before 6pm after receiving information that an injured woman had entered the hotel to seek help,” NT Police said.

“CCTV operators were able to direct police to a man still in the area and he was arrested without incident.”

The accused will appear in court on Monday.

“My heartfelt condolences to the woman’s family and loved ones,” Barney said in a statement.

“Thank you to the hotel staff, Northern Territory Police and paramedics.

“As this matter is being investigated by Northern Territory Police, it is inappropriate to provide further comment at this time.”

Meanwhile, NT News reported that 300 locals took to the streets at an anti-crime rally the day after they were stabbed in disgust.

 

NT opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro (pictured) says more lives are affected in each violent attack

Regional opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said more lives were affected in each violent attack.

“Their lives have changed. The cities we know and love have changed. The territories we know and love have changed,” she said.

This comes after the alleged stabbing of 20-year-old Declan Laverty in a Darwin bottle shop last month sparked protests.

Newscorp reported that thousands of people took to the streets of Darwin to demand action from the Northern Territory government.

The government has since enacted bail reforms to curb violent knife crimes.

As such, persons charged with serious crimes involving certain weapons will be detained until the case is heard.

 

Prime Minister said bail law change is a strong message to the community

Prime Minister Natasha Files said the change in bail law sent a strong message to the community.

“If you are charged with a violent crime with a weapon, you are expected to be remanded to prison until your case is decided.

But Finocchiaro said the change was just a “window decoration” measure.

“The criminals never ended second chances under Labor and they know it,” she said.

She called for the government to restore police powers to deal with “drunks” and to introduce minimum mandatory sentences for assaults on frontline workers.