Canberra Magistrate Denies Bail in Alleged Hammer Attack Case
A magistrate in the Australian Capital Territory has refused bail to a man accused of hospitalising two people in a violent hammer attack in Canberra's Civic precinct, stating the community would be horrified if he were released.
Alleged Attack on City Walk
The accused, 28-year-old Keegan Dempsey from Aranda, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday, January 26, just hours after the late-night incident. Dempsey is alleged to have approached a group of people on City Walk around 12:30am, where a verbal altercation escalated into physical violence.
According to court documents, Dempsey allegedly removed a hammer from his pocket and struck two individuals in the head, leaving one unconscious and both with significant injuries. The attacks are described as unprovoked and spontaneous by the presiding magistrate.
Magistrate's Strong Stance on Bail
Magistrate Glenn Theakston refused bail without even hearing prosecution arguments against Dempsey's release. The magistrate stated unequivocally that the community would be horrified if he were to grant bail in this case.
"The community would be horrified if I was to release this man on bail," Magistrate Theakston said in court, highlighting the seriousness of the alleged offenses and their impact on public safety.
Multiple Charges and Previous Bail Status
Dempsey faces two counts of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm and one count of obstructing or hindering an investigation. He did not enter pleas to any of the charges during Monday's hearing.
Significantly, Dempsey was already on bail at the time of the alleged attack for a separate weapon possession charge. The magistrate expressed particular concern about this, noting he could not comfortably accept that Dempsey would follow proposed bail conditions, which included being barred from Civic and not being intoxicated in public.
Aftermath and Investigation
Following the alleged attack, Dempsey is said to have fled the scene before being found and arrested on Alinga Street approximately thirty minutes later. Police also allege he attempted to destroy evidence while in custody at the ACT watch house.
The case has drawn attention to public safety concerns in Canberra's central business district and the judicial system's approach to violent offenses. Dempsey is scheduled to return to court in February for further proceedings.
This incident comes amid ongoing discussions about bail reform and community safety in the ACT, with this case likely to fuel further debate about how the justice system handles individuals accused of violent crimes while awaiting trial.
