Hit-and-run accused killer to plead guilty

A man accused of the hit-and-run death of a nine-year-old has been denied bail during a heated hearing in Darwin, with the magistrate at one stage warning the boy's mother she would be arrested if she did not shut up.

Matthew Robert Alexander, 23, appeared at Darwin Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with hitting Jack Sultan-Page, who was riding his bicycle on a street in Palmerston in November.

Witnesses allegedly saw a ute speed off, and it was found by an off-duty policeman the next day.

Alexander's lawyer Tom Kaye told the court his client intended to plead guilty to hit-and-run driving causing death, possession of cannabis and methamphetamine and administering a dangerous drug to himself.

But while arguing that Alexander should be granted bail as a first-time offender who was likely to have a large part of his sentence suspended, the Sultan-Page family grew angry.

"I'm never going to see my boy for the rest of my life," his mother Faye Sultan said from the back of the courtroom.

Mr Kaye argued the main element of Alexander's offence was failing to provide assistance after hitting the boy, rather than causing his death by driving negligently.

"He killed our son!" Mr Page shouted.

"It was an accident," replied one of Alexander's supporters.

"He was on ice!" Ms Sultan shot back.

"If you don't shut up, I'll have you arrested," Magistrate Greg Cavanagh told her.

"I'll do my job, let me do it, just be quiet ... this is a court of law, not a pub where people can scream at each other."

The court heard Alexander was being kept in protection in prison after receiving threats.

Mr Cavanagh said the case against Alexander was so strong he should plead guilty as he intended as soon as possible.

"He's facing a certain prison sentence. The motivation for him is too great to grant bail and bail has been refused," he said.

Alexander will reappear in court on January 21.