A 42-year-old man has died in the Northern Territory after he was allegedly bashed and stabbed during an argument at a family meeting about a funeral.

November 17, 2021

A Northern Territory man allegedly bashed and stabbed during an argument at a family meeting about a funeral has died.

The 42-year-old was found about 5.40pm on Tuesday in a driveway at a home in the Darwin suburb of Malak, NT police say.

“His injuries included a number of blunt force injuries,” Detective Senior Sergeant Jak Evans told reporters on Wednesday.

“He’d been hit with an object and he’d also been stabbed once in the abdomen.”

Paramedics and police tried to revive the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 28-year-old man had earlier fled the scene, and was found soon afterwards and arrested at a nearby home.

Det-Snr Sgt Evans said the men were known to each other and from the same Aboriginal community.

“They were unfortunately and very sadly in town discussing funeral arrangements for an extended family member,” he said.

“An argument ensued and unfortunately a man is deceased.

Family members intervened to stop the attack, Det-Snr Sgt Evans said.

“Unfortunately, it was too late,” he said.

“It was definitely emotional time, all funerals are.

“Now they have to organise a second one, so it’s going to be an emotional period.”

The man remains in custody amid an ongoing investigation and is likely to be charged with murder and a number of other offences, Det-Snr Sgt Evans said.

Assistant Commissioner Martin Dole said it was one of numerous vicious crimes committed in Darwin in the past 24 hours.

“This behaviour has to stop. This behaviour is abhorrent and people need to take some responsibility for themselves and stop consuming alcohol to excess,” he said.

“We have too much to do to keep putting up with this violent behaviour, which is absolutely outrageous.”

Officers were also called to two robberies, an assault, another stabbing and two serious assaults.

“Police resources are committed to the public emergency at the moment,” said Mr Dole, referring to the current COVID-19 outbreak.