One victim, a 30-year Darwin resident, said it was the "most disgusting'' thing he had ever seen in the Northern Territory. Another 54-year-old man, talking to the Northern Territory News as he left Royal Darwin Hospital with eight stitches and bruised ribs, said the Saturday night attack was like a precision "army operation''.
Their mate, in his 30s, was still lying in hospital yesterday unable to talk with both sides of his jaw broken. The men declined to reveal their identities in fear of a revenge gang bashing. The 44-year-old man said they went outside the Hibiscus Tavern, Leanyer, when a barman said "kids'' were trashing vehicles in the car park just after 9.30pm. But as soon as they stepped outside, they were "ambushed'' from behind by 40 teenagers who had been hiding under and behind cars. His 54-year-old friend said the attack was so well-planned, the teens did not skip a beat and bashed a couple who stopped to help. "They set the most beautiful little trap by getting us outside,'' the man said, who was kicked unconscious. "We were attacked from behind - it was definitely premeditated. "I don't know how many people kicked me, but they were all taking turns. But what really upsets me is that there were seven and eight-year-olds watching and admiring what these a******s were doing to us.
"You really don't want kids this young to see this. It is creating a gang culture. They think these guys are heroes.'' The men said there was "no question'' that it was the work of infamous Darwin gangs. "I don't know whether it was the Caz Boyz or the Karama Boyz. But they stomped on people's heads. It was mayhem,'' one victim said. The 44-year-old father said police had been "helpful'' but no arrests were made on the night, with the 40 teens fleeing the area into nearby parkland before officers arrived. He feared "nothing serious'' would be done to stop the random bashings until "someone gets killed or seriously maimed''. "We survived, but they could've bashed an older person,'' he said. "They did the same thing before at the same place six months ago. "Their parents are a joke for letting 10-year-olds run wild at 10pm. Until police start finding the parents, it won't stop. Gangs could overrun Darwin.'' His friend thought implementing a "three strikes'' policy to serve a compulsory National Service cadetship could be the answer. "That's the only way of slowing them down and maybe making some men of these bastards.''