Thirty-seven individuals were charged with 50 counts of separate incidents of serious crimes in May including murder (2), attempted murder (1), manslaughter (2), aggravated robbery (9), aggravated burglary (2), theft (7), arson (2), assault causing actual bodily harm (7), common assault (1), acts with intent to cause grievous harm (6), unlawful wounding (2), wrongful confinement (1), criminal intimidation (7), and breach of suspended sentence (1).
The ODPP report based on formal indictments filed in the high courts across the country documents multiple incidents of assault causing actual bodily harm, acts with intent to cause grievous harm and unlawful wounding. A range of victims, including spouses, partners, and family members, suffered at the hands of their assailants.
Of the 42 victims, there were 10 incidents where the accused and the victims were related to one another. In one case, a 29-year-old man was charged with the murder of his 41-year-old uncle. In another, a 27-year-old man’s charges related to the murder of his 25-year-old girlfriend were discontinued due to insufficient and inconsistent evidence. A 39-year-old woman was charged with vehicular manslaughter after causing an accident that claimed the life of her 37-year-old husband.
Among the offenders was a juvenile who is facing charges of aggravated robbery and theft.
There were also two instances of arson reported. In one case, a 30-year-old individual faced charges of arson and criminal intimidation for setting fire to a house belonging to their 21-year-old de facto partner, along with threats made toward the victim’s mother. Another incident involved a 38-year-old man charged with arson for setting fire to his 34-year-old nephew’s residence.
