By ABC
Jefferson Lewis is in police custody after being flown to Darwin from Alice Springs. He is expected to be charged with Kumanjayi’s murder.
Photo: Supplied / Northern Territory Police Force
Northern Territory Police have charged Jefferson Lewis with the murder of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby.
The girl, referred to since her death as Kumanjayi Little Baby for cultural reasons, disappeared from the Old Timers / Ilyperenye town camp in Alice Springs last weekend, sparking a large-scale search and rescue operation.
Her body was found about 5 kilometres south of the town camp on Thursday.
Lewis, 47, had also not been seen since Kumanjayi disappeared until he was arrested near the Charles Creek town camp on Thursday night.
He has also been charged with two counts of sexual assault.
In announcing the charges at a press conference in Alice Springs this morning, NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole said detectives had been working “around the clock” since Lewis’ arrest.
“This remains a deeply distressing matter, and our thoughts are firmly with Kumanjayi’s family, loved ones and the wider community that have been deeply impacted by these events,” he said.
A group of about 400 people rioted outside the Alice Springs Hospital on Thursday night after news broke of Lewis’ arrest.
Community leaders including Kumanjayi’s kinship grandfather, Robin Granites, called for calm.
“It is time now for sorry business, to show respect for our family and have space for grieving and remembering,” Granites said.
Lewis was flown to Darwin in the early hours of Friday morning for safety reasons.
Police to release footage of ‘abhorrent’ behaviour during Alice Springs riots
NT Police are about to release footage of rioting in Alice Springs after Lewis’ arrest, Commissioner Dole said.
But before they do, he said he wanted to speak about what people would see.
“What you will see in this footage is not people processing grief in relation to the death of baby Kumanjayi,” he said.
“What you will see is not people trying to practise traditional law.
“What you will see is criminal behaviour, plain and simple.
“It’s abhorrent, it’s disgusting, and it will not be tolerated or accepted by the Northern Territory Police.”
He added that anyone who recognised people in the footage – or was personally involved in the rioting – should either contact NT Police, or “come and hand yourself in, before we come for you”.
– ABC