EARLIER this week, Melbourne's Liam Jurrah (pictured) was granted personal leave from the club and returned to his traditional homelands in Central Australia. On Thursday, he was charged of an offence by Northern Territory police following an incident at a remote community.
NT POLICE
Friday 9 March 2012
POLICE were called to the Little Sisters Town Camp around midnight on Wednesday to attend a disturbance.
Upon arrival, police found a 35-year-old man suffering serious head injuries, alleged to have been inflicted by a machete.
"Following thorough investigation, police have now charged two 23-year-old men with one count each of Intend Seriou Harm, Cause Serious Harm and being Armed with an Offensive Weapon," Superintendent Michael White said.
"A 30-year-old female is also facing one count of Intend Serious Harm, Cause Serious Harm’ and two counts of being Armed with an Offensive Weapon after a 15-year-old boy was taken to hospital with significant head injuries.
"Both incidents happened at the same town camp but are not related."
The trio have been remanded in custody to appear in the Alice Springs Magistrates Court.
Now that the matter is before the courts, the Northern Territory Police Force will be making no further comment.
MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB
Friday 9 March 2012
"WE will try and assist and support Liam as much as we can during this period, understanding that we are dealing with incredibly complex, emotional and difficult issues," Melbourne CEO Cameron Schwab said.
"We're dealing with a difficult and challenging issue. The way it's been managed and handled by the media today recognises the complexities of the issue that we're now dealing with.
"There are two elements that prohibit me from talking too much about the matter: firstly, we're trying to establish the facts to how it evolved, and what's actually happened here.
"We understand the reasons why Liam was in Central Australia and Alice Springs. But exactly how and what happened over the last 24 hours we can’t be entirely sure of.
"And the second part is that it is a police matter.
"We provide support for any person in our game, and Liam is obviously the centre of attention at this time.
"We'll continue to provide him with the support that he needs -- the same way that any other player would.
"In dealing with providing that support, you do so with the empathy of what they're facing. He has been assisting his sister through that process.
"A significant court matter has been heard, and Liam sought to stay there during a period of time. Clearly he is often torn by the various responsibilities he does have as an elder in his community, and the responsibilities that come with being an elite athlete playing in an AFL football club."
Last Modified on 09/03/2012 12:39