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Melissa Mackay
Melissa Mackay is the court reporter and weekend news presenter at ABC Darwin. She has been covering courts in the Northern Territory since 2018 has reported on some of the NT's most high-profile cases including the murder trials of Constable Zachary Rolfe and Benjamin Hoffmann, various coronial inquests, criminal and civil matters.
Melissa also covers defence issues and general news. She has previously worked at 9 News Darwin and ABC Alice Springs.
Find her on twitter @_melissamackay
Latest by Melissa Mackay
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.
Zachary Rolfe's evidence at Kumanjayi Walker inquest delayed for a fourth time
Almost a year after he was first scheduled to answer questions, former NT Police constable Zachary Rolfe has had his evidence at the Kumanjayi Walker coronial inquest delayed for a fourth time.
Zachary Rolfe accuses NT Coroner of collusion, in bias allegations revealed in court documents
NT Police labels Zachary Rolfe's allegations of bias against the NT coroner a "distraction" and an attempt to avoid giving evidence in the Kumanjayi Walker inquest, after the former officer asks the coroner to stand aside.
FOI documents reveal $3 million cost of Kumanjayi Walker coronial inquest
The ongoing coronial inquest into the death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker has become the most expensive in Northern Territory history.
Woman accused of 'cream crepe' attack on chief minister fronts court for the first time
Suzanne Milgate is accused of hitting Chief Minister Natasha Fyles in the face with a cream-covered crepe.
Zachary Rolfe asks NT coroner to consider stepping aside from Kumanjayi Walker inquest
Lawyers for Zachary Rolfe have asked the Northern Territory coroner to "consider recusing herself" from an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker "on the grounds of apprehended bias".
In the NT where most prisoners are Aboriginal, the only Indigenous legal aid service is in turmoil
The most senior solicitor at the North Australia Aboriginal Justice Agency has "ceased employment", in the latest in a series of internal management disruptions.
Family of murdered domestic violence advocate welcome coroner to her home, as long-running inquiry nears end
The family of a domestic violence advocate murdered by her partner have welcomed Elisabeth Armitage to Anthepe town camp on the outskirts of Alice Springs.