Furious Aussies react to alleged supermarket stabbing in Darwin (2025)

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Furious Aussies have called for the army to be deployed in the Northern Territory in response to crime, after the alleged fatal stabbing of a Darwin supermarket owner.

Canadian-born Linford Feich, 71, ran the Friendly Grocer Nightcliff Supermarket in the city's west, where he was allegedly attacked on Wednesday evening after he confronted an alleged teenage shoplifter who was out on bail.

The incident has enraged Darwin residents, who claimNT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro's attempts to crack down on crimehave failed and bail laws in the territory remain too relaxed.

Hundreds of locals took to social media to vent their frustration on Thursday, with some calling for the federalgovernment to 'send the army through' or 'bring in the armed forces' in response to spiralling crime in the territory.

'How many more innocent people have to die or live their lives in fear to be in their homes or businesses and not be safe... Bring in the armed forces to clean up,' said one.

'Call in the federal police, we are not safe in the NT,' said another.

'Lia Finocchiaro you said tougher bail laws? Where? You're a failure just as your predecessor was,' a third fumed.

'So Lia this is a result from your tough on crime policy is it,' questioned a fourth.

'The public have had enough.'

Some pointed out the brazen nature of the alleged attack given it allegedly happened just across the road from Nightcliff Police Station.

Others called for the introduction of capital punishment or for the territory to legalise pepper spray so that residents could better defend themselves.

The alleged teenage offender left the scene on a bicycle on Wednesday evening and after an extensive police manhunt, he turned himself in shortly after midnight.

He is understood to come from the Daly region, 50km southwest of Darwin.

He had been required to live at a 'Top End remote community,' but was not required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.

Two months after Ms Finocchiaro took office in August, her government successfully passed legislation to lower the age of criminal responsibility back to 10 years.

It also enacted tougher bail laws for violent offenders, which had been sparked by the death of bottle shop worker Declan Laverty, who was killed by a 19-year-old on bail for aggravated robbery and assault.

Ms Finocchiaro also put in seven requests to the Commonwealth for assistance to tackle crime in the NT, which has the highest offender rates in the country.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committed to one of them - the easing of federal laws to allow the use of police drones. Other requests includedmore income management for parents of youth offenders and kids who do not attend school.

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