Braden Jentian, aged 38, has entered a plea of not guilty to the murder of his 22-year-old partner, referred to as Ms. Ashley for cultural reasons, in the Northern Territory Supreme Court. The tragic incident occurred in 2024 when Ms. Ashley was discovered deceased on a street in Katherine.
According to the prosecution, Ms. Ashley succumbed to multiple blunt-force injuries, which included a fractured skull, severe facial lacerations, and internal bleeding. The defense attorney for Mr. Jentian contends that Ms. Ashley’s death was the result of “something or someone else,” and anticipates the trial will extend for an additional two weeks.
It is important to note for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers that this report includes the name of an Indigenous individual who has passed away, as permitted by her family.
During the trial, jurors were informed that on the day of Ms. Ashley’s death, the couple appeared to be “madly in love.” The defense claims her death was caused by external factors. Crown prosecutor Rebecca Everitt, in her opening statement, asserted that Mr. Jentian engaged in a “brutal, extended assault” on Ms. Ashley, leading to her demise.
Ms. Everitt characterized the couple’s five-year relationship as plagued by violence and emphasized that the prosecution’s case would highlight a history of previous assaults committed by Mr. Jentian. She argued that these incidents indicated his propensity to inflict serious harm on Ms. Ashley.
“We argue that the accused exhibited a violent inclination toward Ms. Ashley and was willing to act upon that inclination,” she stated. “During these assaults, he harbored a desire to cause her severe injuries or even kill her, which culminated in her death.”
The jury was presented with a series of agreed facts outlining nine separate assaults by Mr. Jentian against Ms. Ashley from 2019 to 2024. In one disturbing instance from July 2024, the couple had an argument while drinking, which escalated when Mr. Jentian punched Ms. Ashley, knocking her to the ground, followed by a brutal attack with a metal bar and a stabbing with a screwdriver.
Further testimony revealed that in August 2022, Mr. Jentian threatened Ms. Ashley with a gardening tool and struck her with a metal drink bottle. When she threatened to call the police, he brandished a knife, stating, “I’m going to make you a cripple, so you can’t leave this country.”
On another occasion in January 2022, Mr. Jentian allegedly threatened Ms. Ashley with two spears, making threats against her life. While the defense acknowledged in their opening remarks that Mr. Jentian had previously exhibited violent behavior, attorney Matthew Hubber asserted that his client did not cause Ms. Ashley’s death. He urged the jury to consider that no witnesses had observed the assault.
Ms. Everitt recounted that on the day of Ms. Ashley’s death, the couple spent around six hours drinking and playing poker machines in various bars. CCTV footage presented to the court depicted their visit to Mahogany Bar & Grill before relocating to Kirbys Katherine Hotel, where they continued their activities.
Craig Merryfield, a duty manager at Kirbys that day, testified that the couple appeared to be enjoying themselves and purchasing substantial quantities of pre-mixed drinks. He noted that they seemed “madly in love.” However, he mentioned that service was halted for Mr. Jentian when he began to exhibit signs of intoxication, stating, “You’ve had enough.” Mr. Jentian responded angrily, insisting, “I’m not leaving without my wife,” while displaying an intense gaze at both Ms. Ashley and the bar staff.
The trial, presided over by Justice Sonia Brownhill, is slated to continue until May 15.
