Outback town regroups after little girl’s death, riot
An outback town is exhausted and heartbroken after the death of a young girl and a chaotic night triggered the evacuation of its accused murderer, an Elder says.
Jefferson Lewis, 47, had to be flown to Darwin and was taken away after his arrest after an angry mob attacked him and then tried to storm Alice Springs hospital on Thursday night.
He is expected to be charged in the murder of the 5-year-old girl, known as Kumanjayi Little Baby, at the request of her family and in accordance with cultural traditions.
Aboriginal Elder Michael Liddle said the unrest was an outburst of anger that ignored the consequences and undermined the community’s collective response to the girl’s disappearance.
“What happened yesterday was an incident of anger that turned into violence, with no idea of the outcome,” the Alyawarre man told reporters on Friday.
“All week long the Alice Springs community has been coming together…they’ve been looking for a little lady, a little baby who’s been kidnapped by a monster, and that hard work was canceled last night by some people who were very angry at the systems.”
As the riot grew in front of Alice Springs hospital, four ambulances were removed from the road and crews were placed on lockdown for approximately five hours.
“If you’ve had a haemorrhage or a heart attack at the time you can’t call the ambulances,” Mr Liddle said.
The family of the five-year-old girl appealed for calm and asked people to let justice take its course.
“What happened this week is not our style,” senior Warlpiri elder and family spokesman Robin Granites said in a statement.
“Our children are very precious; of course, we are angry and hurt by what happened.
“Now is the time to do the sad work, to honor our family, to make space to grieve and remember.”
Takeaway alcohol sales will be limited on Saturday as authorities try to prevent further unrest.
Efforts have begun to capture the rioters, and on Friday a woman was arrested for attempting to burn a police car.
Police were also looking for people they believed had been protecting Lewis in recent days.
Northern Territory police said those involved in what they described as “disgraceful behaviour” were a minority.
Elder Warren Williams said residents were distraught and afraid.
“Right now I feel devastated by what happened this week,” he said.
Following Lewis’ arrest, rumors and calls for “repayment” or traditional punishment according to central Australian Aboriginal belief surfaced.
But Mr Liddle warned this risked exacerbating the situation and distorting cultural practices.
He said the unrest was tied to deeper trauma and a lack of support for people leaving prison.
Lewis allegedly kidnapped the little girl just six days after being released from prison.
Despite the chaos, Mr Liddle said the town’s response when the little girl went missing showed its true character.
Almost 200 people searched the difficult terrain around Alice Springs for the boy before a body was found on the fifth day of the search.
“With all the sadness that the Alice Springs community has endured… it really shows the coming of people and the strength and support in the community,” Mr Liddle said.
Lewis remains in custody and is expected to be charged with murder in the coming days.
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