Man charged with 16yo girl's murder in remote NT community
Quick Look
- A 26-year-old man, Ashton Chungaloo, has been charged with the murder of a 16-year-old girl in the remote Northern Territory community of Alpurrurulam.
- He appeared in Darwin Local Court but did not seek bail, and his defence lawyer successfully requested the case be moved to Alice Springs, where he is due to return on December 10.
- Northern Territory Police, assisted by Queensland officers, investigated the incident after a local clinic reported the girl's death at approximately 5:30am on Monday.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Alpurrurulam is a remote Northern Territory community located approximately 1,500 kilometres south-east of Darwin and less than 20km from the Queensland border. The community has not had a permanent police station since 2018, with the nearest officers stationed 170 kilometres away at Avon Downs.
A 26-year-old man has faced Darwin Local Court over the alleged murder of a 16-year-old girl in a remote Northern Territory community.
Ashton Chungaloo has been in police custody since the alleged incident at Alpurrurulam on Monday.
This morning he was charged over the death of the teenage girl, who police say he was believed to be in a domestic relationship with.
Mr Chungaloo did not appear in court and did not seek bail.
His defence lawyer proposed that the matter should be shifted to Alice Springs, which Justice Stephen Ledek agreed to.
Northern Territory Police, assisted by officers from Queensland, responded to the incident. Crime Command and Forensics also travelled to the community to investigate the death.
There has not been a permanent police station in the dry community since 2018, with the closest officers stationed 170 kilometres away at remote Avon Downs.
NT Police said a local clinic made a report at about 5:30am on Monday that a girl had died there.
Alpurrurulam is about 1,500 kilometres south-east of Darwin, and less than 20km from the Queensland border.
Mr Chungaloo will return to court on December 10 in Alice Springs.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The case will proceed in Alice Springs Local Court on December 10, 2026.
Certain · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What was the nature of the domestic relationship between the accused and the victim?
- What specific evidence led to the murder charge?
- Why did the accused not appear in court or seek bail?
- What are the details of the incident that occurred at Alpurrurulam on Monday?
