Former AFL player and founder of popular Northern Territory fashion label House of Darwin Shaun Edwards has faced court charged with aggravated assault, choking, and strangling.
Mr Edwards was charged earlier this month following an alleged domestic violence incident in May last year, with a temporary restraining order in place since June.
Today Darwin Local Court heard Mr Edwards intends to contest the criminal charges and the domestic violence order.
He was not present in court but his lawyer, Vanessa Farmer, said he was available if required.
Fashion label House of Darwin has expanded to include a charitable foundation focused on delivering sports, education and social initiatives. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)
Ms Farmer told the court her client would be pleading not guilty to the charges and requested a future court date so the case could progress.
Originally founded as a clothing line in 2020, House of Darwin has since expanded to include a charitable foundation focused on delivering sports, education and social initiatives for communities across the NT.
The business gained international exposure through collaborations with high-profile designers, artists and musicians and has featured in publications such as Broadsheet, Fashion Journal and Urban List.
The Darwin Local Court heard Mr Edwards would plead not guilty to all charges and contest a related domestic violence order. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)
Earlier this week House of Darwin announced an official partnership with Darwin’s biggest music festival, Bass in the Grass, with a post on social media unveiling festival merchandise.
Order ‘directly linked’ to charges
Ms Farmer also represented Mr Edwards on the domestic violence order (DVO) application, which the court heard was “directly linked” to the assault allegations.
Judge Therese Austin granted a request by NT Police and the alleged victim to have the DVO — which Mr Edwards contests — heard alongside the criminal proceedings.
Ms Farmer said her client wanted to have the order lifted before his criminal charges were resolved, which Judge Austin said could “potentially take a long time”.
This week House of Darwin announced an official partnership with the city’s biggest music festival, Bass in the Grass. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)
“If there is no basis for an order and it ought not to have been made, it’s in place for 18 months potentially, because it was issued in June [2025] and it won’t be heard until the end of the year,” she said.
“[There are] work and businesses and things he’s been required to exit and there’s no suggestion in the evidence before the court there’s been a breach.”
Judge Austin said it would be “highly prejudicial” to Mr Edwards for him to contest the DVO in a separate hearing.
“Having two hearings where the protected person and the respondent give evidence and are cross-examined twice, and all the witnesses come to court traversing the same issues in a domestic violence allegation … is not in the interests of justice,” she said.
Mr Edwards will not be required to attend court in person when the case returns to court on May 18.