Police say the woman was stabbed multiple times during an aggravated assault on the outskirts of Katherine last Tuesday night.

The Indigenous woman was flown to Darwin Hospital where she was last known to be in a serious but stable condition.

Det. Sen.-Sgt Mark Malogorski said about 8.20pm last Tuesday, police and St John’s Ambulance officers were notified of an injured woman lying in an alley way between the Katherine River bridge and Kalano Community.

“The woman had multiple stab wounds to her body,” Det. Malogorski said.

“Careflight transferred her to Royal Darwin Hospital in a serious but stable condition,” Det. Malogorski said.

“We are calling for any witnesses who may have been in the area between 6pm and 8pm to come forward.”

Police detectives reissued the called for witnesses again this week.

After the alleged assault came to police attention, a police vehicle was left blocking the river track, near the Katherine Civic Centre, on Wednesday with crime scene tape prohibiting access.

A police spokeswoman said squad specialists would attend the scene to further investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

If you have any information that may assist, contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Meanwhile, only last week, in an unrelated finding, the Northern Territory’s coroner, Greg Cavanagh said domestic violence rates among Aboriginal people were said to be out of control.

Police last week said they had responded to more than 75,000 domestic violence incidents over the past three years.

Mr Cavanagh said his findings show for many perpetrators of domestic violence alcohol is a major problem, jail is not a deterrent and domestic violence orders are ineffective.

'”That is to say, policing and punitive sentences do not provide an answer to stopping the violence,” Mr Cavanagh said.