Court considers future of violent offender
Posted
Updated
The Northern Territory Supreme Court will examine whether a deaf man who has a history of violent offending can return to Alice Springs.
Roland Ebatarinja, 30, can't hear or speak after contracting meningitis as a child.
In 1995 he was charged with fatally stabbing a man at the Larapinta Valley town camp and in 2002 he was accused of stabbing three people.
But he wasn't committed to stand trial because he couldn't understand the court proceedings.
He was placed under a five year supervision order in 2004 and was moved from Alice Springs to Darwin.
The order is due to expire in June.
Today Justice Trevor Riley ordered reports examining the likelihood of Ebatarinja harming himself or others if he was let go.
Defence lawyer Michelle Swift said one of Ebatarinja's victims had indicated to the Court she did not want him to return to Alice Springs.
The review ordered by the judge will also investigate Ebatarinja's communication skills and a possible link between his disability and his violent offending.
Search for news
ABC News Online takes a look at the big stories from 2008.
