Palmerston man's family demand answers over 'inhumane' police shooting

Peter Skeen was shot at six times by NT police and remains in Royal Darwin Hospital almost two months after later. His family say it could be a year before he's well enough to face court.

Peter Skeen's family presented a united front at the teenager's first planned court appearance this morning. Source: NITV, Guy McLean

The family of a Top End teenager who was shot by police earlier this year say they've been left in the dark about the police case against him. 

Peter Skeen was too unwell to attend a brief court hearing in Darwin after being charged by police over the  events that led to the shooting which happened in early March.

Police allege Mr Skeen was armed with a spear when he was shot in a suburban Palmerston park. He’s been charged with going armed in public, assault a member of the police force and recklessly endangering life.

Mr Skeen's family said his lawyers were yet to receive a brief of evidence regarding the case against him.

"We've had one statement from an Aboriginal Liaison Officer that wasn't even at the scene. He was just driving past so we've got nothing else from any other police officers and also no body-worn footage and I find it kind of strange and odd that none of this stuff's happened," Mr Skeen's Uncle Ranald Link said.

"Of course we’re going to fight the charges against him. It’s inhumane what happened five metres away from a person, shoot him six times."

Mr Link said his nephew remained in hospital, adding it could be a year before the teenager's well enough to attend court.

He said he was shot four times and faces a long recovery.

Peter Skeen was shot at six times by NT police Source: Uprising of the People

"(He received) four bullet wounds, a couple to the chest, one skimmed his neck, one through the abdomen, they had to cut him open because it’s hit a main artery they’ve cut his guts open and they’ve left him open for a bit. He can’t do any MRI scans at the moment because of the schrapnel in his body."

Mr Skeen is charged with going armed in public, assault a member of the police and recklessly endangering life.

But his lawyer Clancy Dane has also expressed frustration over a lack of evidence provided by the prosecution.

 "We’ve been trying very hard to get a copy of the the case against him, the brief of evidence, unfortunately today all we seem to receive was a single police officer statement which was not a statement of either of the police directly involved in the shooting."

Mr Skeen's family has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover legal costs. 

The case is set to return to court in June.