A young Wadeye man, once touted as a "force for change" in a troubled Northern Territory community, will spend at least three and a half years in prison for killing another man last year.
Ezekiel Narndu, 19, was found guilty by a Supreme Court jury of the manslaughter of a 33-year-old man, known for cultural reasons as KT, after throwing a steel bar through his skull during an eruption of violence in the community of Wadeye in April 2022.
Acting Justice Graham Hiley said sentencing Narndu was "particularly difficult" as the young man had no criminal history and an "otherwise exemplary character".
"Whatever sentence I impose will be regarded by members of KT's family and his language group as 'too low' and by members of your family and your language group as 'too tough'," Acting Justice Hiley said.
The NT Supreme Court heard Narndu graduated high school in Wadeye in 2020, one of seven students who were the first to complete their schooling in the community in more than a decade.
He then went on to work at the school as a PE teacher.
Prosecutor Stephen Ledeck told the court Narndu grew up in Wadeye among outbreaks of community violence and riots, but was seen "as an example" of what young people could achieve.
"What we have instead is another tragic situation where goodwill, best intentions, have been subverted by an undercurrent of violence that runs between these families who cannot resolve disputes in a normal and mediated fashion," Mr Ledeck said.
The death of KT fuelled ongoing unrest in the community that Justice Hiley said was "unfortunately … not the first and won't be the last" time violence erupted in Wadeye.
In a series of glowing character references given to Acting Justice Hiley ahead of his sentencing, teachers and colleagues of Narndu described him as "kind-hearted" and "empathetic".
The court heard his getting involved in family disputes in April last year, when KT was killed, was "very much a departure from his normal character".
"Although there were at times disagreements and arguments among students, Ezekiel never got involved in this type of behaviour and seemed determined to focus on developing as an individual," former Wadeye teacher, Matthew Spring, wrote.
"He has always been a student we held high hopes for to be a leader of the community."
Narndu's barrister, Beth Wild, told the court her client was a non-drinker who grew up in a supportive family and was a "prime candidate" for rehabilitation.
She raised concerns that time in prison would impair his prospects of rehabilitation and said it was in the community's interest that a young person, like Narndu, not become a "hardened criminal at Holtze [prison]."
"Your barrister is concerned that prison will be detrimental to your rehabilitation," Acting Justice Hiley said in sentencing.
"There always is a risk that a person in prison who is exposed to other criminals may well learn bad habits."
But he told Narndu the manslaughter charge was "towards the higher level of seriousness" and warranted jail time.
"Hopefully your education, intelligence and maturity will assist you to participate [in rehabilitation] … and avoid mixing with others who might try to influence you in criminal behaviour," he said.
The court heard the victim, KT, had a long-term partner and three young children who were "hurting and feeling lost".
A victim impact statement from his wife revealed KT's youngest child "doesn't really understand" what had happened to his dad.
"I worry he won't have many memories of his father when he grows up," she said.
Narndu was sentenced to a total of seven years in jail, with a non-parole period of three years and six months.
