Indigenous elder who performed AFL Welcome to Country admits to partner a ‘bad example’ after viciously beating his girlfriend with an ‘Aboriginal tool’ during a drunken rampage

An Indigenous elder led a Welcome to Country ceremony at an AFL match just days before pleading guilty to violently attacking his partner with an Aboriginal foraging tool in an alcohol-fuelled rage.

Benedict Stevens, chairman of the Artepe Aboriginal Corporation and director of Tangentyere Council, was given a six-month suspended sentence in June after punching his partner in the head at an Alice Springs home in April.

While Mr Stevens volunteered to resign as Aboriginal liaison officer at Alice Springs Hospital, he retained his position on Tangentyere Council, which deals with community issues such as domestic violence.

The shocking revelations emerged after Stevens met with Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro last Thursday, following a huge spike in violent crime in the outback city.

It is understood Ms Finocchiaro was unaware of Mr Stevens’ violent past when she met him.

A statement of facts, seen by The Australianoutlined that Mr Stevens had been drinking with his partner, his daughter’s partners and other family members on the afternoon of April 19.

He left the suburban home and returned around 10:30 p.m.

Mr Stevens pleaded guilty to entering the house and recovering a stick, believed to be a black and pink digging stick, traditionally used by Aboriginal women.

He swung the stick at her head, hitting her eyebrow and leaving a large crack about 6cm long and 5cm wide.

Mr Stevens performed the Welcome to Country for a televised AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and Fremantle Dockers in Alice Springs the week before he pleaded guilty.

He remains one of 14 directors of Tangentyere Council and has defended his position, saying he has “changed” since the attack.

“I also said to myself, ‘What the hell are you doing, Mr. Stevens?’ You are the TO (Traditional Owner) of this town, of Alice Springs. Why set a bad example for them? You have to take the lead and show respect for women,” he told the Australian.

However, Mr Stevens’ position of power, especially in relation to domestic violence, has sparked outrage among many local residents.

“Why is someone with a conviction for serious domestic violence at the top of the food chain, while the (police) commissioner and the prime minister are talking about domestic violence in the city?” said one.

Another said: ‘The Territory cannot have DV offenders as leaders, we are a joke.’

Mr Stevens defended his position as director of Tangentyere Council, which tackles community issues including domestic violence

Last year, the federal government committed $2 million to a Tangentyere Council ‘Women’s Voices’ campaign.

The government has also set aside $1.25 million over the past two years to support family and domestic violence.

Mr Stevens insists he is using his position on Tangentyere council to steer people away from alcohol, which he blamed for the ‘accidental’ attack in April.

“If you drink alcohol, alcohol caused that problem. It’s all about alcohol. If you stay out of it, you will have a good life,” he said.

He added that he wants to “escape alcohol” and hopes he can use his story to stop other men from following the same path.

Mr Stevens met with Ms Finocchiaro next to the Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation last Thursday as part of her response to increased crime in the city.

There were reportedly “high-level” discussions about ways to combat the increase in violence, but neither side made any commitments on funding.

Northern Territory police have sent extra officers from Darwin to Alice Springs after a two-month-old baby was flown to an Adelaide hospital with a brain haemorrhage and skull fracture.

The child reportedly suffered serious injuries during an alleged home invasion.

Police Commissioner Michael Murphy claimed that violent crimes, including assault, kidnapping and robbery, have been on the rise since December 3.

Other recent allegations include a woman being raped in her own bed, while a 57-year-old man was allegedly threatened by a teenage gang armed with a tomahawk until he gave them a bottle of whisky.

Mr Stevens met with Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro (pictured) last week as part of her trip following increased violent crime in Alice Springs, despite having a history of violence himself

Ms Finocchiaro’s two-day trip to Alice Springs was cut short.

NT Opposition Leader Selena Uibo claimed not enough had been done to prepare for the “predictable” increase in crime.

“It is extremely worrying that there was a shocking wave of violent crime in Katherine last weekend, with reports that only one police unit in a town of 10,000 responded. This is just not good enough,” she said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Finocchiaro’s office for comment.