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Melissa Mackay
Melissa Mackay is the court reporter at ABC Darwin. She has been covering courts in the Northern Territory since 2018 and has reported on some of the NT's most high-profile cases, including the murder trials of former Constable Zachary Rolfe and Benjamin Hoffmann, as well as the coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker and coroner's inquiry into domestic violence in the NT. Melissa has been nominated for numerous awards for her reporting and was a finalist in the 2023 Young Walkley awards.
Melissa also presents and produces the 7PM television bulletin. She has previously worked at 9 News Darwin and ABC Alice Springs.
Latest by Melissa Mackay
NT police officer faces Supreme Court trial on rape, choking and aggravated assault charges
A police officer facing rape and assault charges is committed to stand trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court, with a local court judge finding there is "sufficient evidence" against him.
Further delays to 'sadistic' zoologist's bestiality and child abuse material sentencing
Disgraced zoologist Adam Britton pleaded guilty in September to 60 offences, including bestiality, possessing child abuse material and other animal cruelty charges.
Five people killed in two separate crashes on NT roads in one night
Four people have been killed in a single vehicle crash on the remote Roper Highway, with a pedestrian also struck and killed in a separate incident in Darwin's rural area.
On this remote island, the justice system has been tailored to better suit its Indigenous population
Almost two years since the NT's Aboriginal Justice Agreement was signed, the first Community Court and local Law and Justice Group has been established on Groote Eylandt, marking a new era in the territory's justice system.
Scientists previously thought this corner of Antarctica was 'immune' from climate change — but now it's losing ice
In a whitewashed corner of one of the world's coldest continents, Australian scientists are living in tents and undertaking some of the most ambitious research in 20 years.
Alice Springs has one of the world's highest DV rates. Its only women's shelter has just received $4m
In a town with one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the country, the only women's crisis accommodation has received a $4 million boost in funding.
Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright to stand trial over fatal chopper crash
Matt Wright has been committed to stand trial in the NT Supreme Court on a charge relating to a helicopter crash that killed his friend and television co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson.
NT coroner refuses to stand aside from Kumanjayi Walker coronial inquest
Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage has rejected former NT Police officer Zachary Rolfe's request that she stand aside from a coronial inquest examining the death of Kumanjayi Walker.
The coroner examined the NT's 'domestic violence epidemic'. Here's what she heard
The Northern Territory coroner has closed a months-long inquiry into the NT's "domestic violence epidemic". The evidence, at times, left her counsel-assisting "speechless". Watch a summary of the inquiry.
Embattled Aboriginal law firm NAAJA loses third chief executive in 12 months
The troubled firm, which is the main legal agency for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory, has had three chief executives in the past 12 months.
Analysis
analysis:As domestic violence services cry out for funding, the NT government builds two new art galleries
Since 2000, 81 women have been killed by their partners in the Northern Territory. Four of them have been at the centre of a landmark coronial inquiry. The evidence has been devastating and repetitive — but will it spark change?
'Her life still matters': NT domestic violence inquiry wraps up after six months
After eight weeks of evidence, across the past six months, Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage has adjourned her landmark inquiry into the NT's domestic, family and sexual violence system.
Listen to Aboriginal communities to tackle DV, former NT Australian of the Year tells coroner
An inquest into domestic violence is told empowering Aboriginal leaders and putting trust into communities is central to stopping the "scourge of domestic violence offending".
'Rigid masculinity' at the core of domestic violence crisis in Australia, NT coroner hears
The coroner investigating the "scourge" of domestic violence in the Northern Territory has warned there will be "more inquests" if the system does not change.
'The silence sickens me': Lives of Aboriginal women remembered at domestic violence inquiry
The deaths of four Aboriginal women examined by a major coronial inquest were equally horrific. But none garnered national attention for very long.
Domestic violence drivers 'compounded' in the NT, says national DV commissioner
Australia's national commissioner for domestic, family and sexual violence has told a coronial inquest that the issues driving violence are "compounded" in the Northern Territory.
Coroner hears better men's services key to addressing domestic violence
A landmark inquest looking at the state of domestic violence in the Northern Territory hears men's services are key to addressing the crisis.
More than half of NT's prisoners jailed over domestic violence offences, coroner hears
Each of the four Aboriginal women examined in a months-long inquest were killed by their partners, who each had long histories of violence and prior stints in prison.
'I can't see a way out': NT Police to overhaul domestic violence response, inquest hears
Northern Territory Police will begin implementing a new approach to domestic and family violence in response to a months-long inquest into the deaths of four women at the hands of their partners.
Marcia Langton fronts NT domestic violence inquest, calls for 'no exceptions' alcohol restrictions
Professor Marcia Langton was called as an expert witness to the ongoing coronial inquest into the deaths of four Indigenous women in the NT.
Domestic and family violence 'flourishes' in the NT, expert tells inquest
Coroner Elisabeth Armitage has reopened her series of coronial inquests into the domestic violence-related killings of four Aboriginal women for its final sittings.
NT coroner to resume domestic violence inquiry examining killings of four Aboriginal women
Elisabeth Armitage will spend the two next weeks hearing from experts and institutions about where the NT domestic violence system has failed, and how it can improve.
Advocates welcome proposed NT DV reforms, but say they mean 'absolutely nothing' without more funding
The Justice Legislation Amendment (Domestic and Family Violence) Bill contains a suite of changes, including reforms aimed at reducing the risk of victims being misidentified as perpetrators.
'Like a horror movie': Man sentenced to decade in prison over meth-fuelled Darwin attacks
Kaspar Hansman, 30, pleaded guilty to 11 charges after carrying out a 'drug-fuelled, revenge-motivated' attack on his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend in 2021.
Darwin tourist left permanently injured after random one-punch attack outside CBD hotel
A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to three years' jail, suspended after 12 months, over the unprovoked attack.