Teen's murder case delayed after NT's forensic pathologist takes leave

E : Courts Police say the 21-year-old man was found with a laceration to his neck a few blocks away from Tennant Creek's main street on June 12. (ABC News: Samantha Jonscher) NT Police allege the teenager stabbed the man to death "following an altercation" in the early hours of the morning. (ABC News: Hamish Harty) He singled out the post-mortem examination report as a particularly "difficult item" as the NT's permanent forensic pathologist was on leave and it was unclear who else might take over. Mr Dalrymple asked Judge Carly Ingles for a three-month adjournment but said he could not guarantee the post-mortem report would be complete by then. Defence lawyer Kieran Bonser said the delay was a concern for their client but given the nature of the charge, it was appropriate that the Crown had a chance to obtain the material. In granting the adjournment, Judge Ingles said as the case was proceeding under the Youth Justice Act, it should be resolved "as quickly as possible", however she said she understood prosecutors' hands were tied. The case will return to court on December 17.