Palmerston general duties officers have arrested a 31-year-old man following a disturbance at a Moulden residence on Sunday 1 March 2020.

At approximately 2:13am, an altercation began over a mobile phone. The alleged offender punched a 32-year-old man to the face, causing minor injuries. Both men then left the property.

The alleged offender re-entered the unit and struck a 33-year-old man to the head with a hammer. The victim suffered serious injuries and was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital where he will undergo surgery.

The 31-year-old was located at his residence at 12:30pm the same day. Police recovered a mobile phone belonging to the 33-year-old victim and the weapon alleged to have been used in the offending.

Crime duty detectives then took carriage of the investigation leading to the man being charged with:

• unlawfully cause serious harm
• stealing
• aggravated assault

He will appear in Darwin Local Court today.