Dylan Voller has been waiting for his chance to be heard.
Footage screened in July of Mr Voller and five other youths being tear-gassed and spit hooded at Darwin's Don Dale Youth Detention Centre sparked the Northern Territory child detention royal commission.
Mr Voller, who is now in an adult prison, and other Don Dale youths will give evidence to the inquiry over coming days after the NT government lost a bid to delay further witnesses.
His lawyer Peter O'Brien says Mr Voller wants to give evidence next week.
"Don't forget, this young person has been aware of what's going on in the public domain and with this commission since the 28th of July this year, sitting in custody waiting for his chance to be heard," Mr O'Brien said.
"It would be heartless, in my respectful submission, to do anything other than achieve that next week."
Mr Voller's mother Joanne has said he fears repercussions from prison guards at the Darwin Correctional Centre if he testifies.
Mr O'Brien said his client did have concerns about giving evidence while he remains in jail.
"We are concerned there is a continuation of intimidation and threats," he told the commission on Thursday.
Another boy tear-gassed at Don Dale, identified as AD, wants to give his evidence "so he can get on with his life", his barrister John Lawrence SC said.
"I question really why their legal representatives now can make an application that would prevent AD telling his story and potentially compromise his mental situation."
Rejecting the government's application to delay further evidence, commission chair Margaret White said the safety of the children must be a first and overriding concern.
"It is clear that both vulnerable young people wish to give their evidence; that is important for them, that they wish to do it as soon as possible," Ms White said.
"The medical advice is should they not be able to do so there is no guarantee that they may not be further damaged by the delay."
Counsel for the NT government Sonia Brownhill SC argued the government was being denied the chance to properly prepare for and respond to the evidence of five vulnerable people and other witnesses.
AD, who is seeking damages over the 2014 gassing incident, will appear before a closed hearing in Darwin on Friday and his evidence will remain confidential.
The new NT agency in charge of juvenile detention accepts the Don Dale and Alice Springs youth detention centres are unsuitable.
"I think it's really clear that the current two detention centres are not suitable and have no therapeutic value and we have to do things vastly differently," Territory Families acting deputy CEO Jeanette Kerr said.
