Man charged with murdering five-year-old girl
A man has been charged with sexually assaulting and murdering a five-year-old girl who disappeared from her country home.
Jefferson Lewis, 47, was captured by police late Thursday at a camp in the town of Alice Springs.
He was beaten unconscious by locals and taken to hospital; where riots broke out as angry residents demanded access and faced immediate customary justice.
Lewis was flown to Darwin by the NT Police air wing for his own safety and that of hospital staff.
On Sunday, police announced that Lewis was accused of giving the name Kumanjayi Little Baby, which was used after his death at the request of his family in accordance with cultural traditions.
He also faces two charges of sexually assaulting her and has been remanded in custody for a hearing expected in Darwin Local Court on Tuesday.
The arrest followed a massive five-day search of the girl and Lewis in the woods.
The body of the five-year-old child was found in the forest on Thursday, causing sadness and anger in the community.
Lewis had only been out of jail for six days.
Five emergency service staff were injured and police vehicles and ambulances were damaged in the initial riot, with a police car also set on fire.
Police are tracking the rioters to lay charges for the violence.
They are also looking for people they believe protected Lewis before his arrest.
The five-year-old girl’s family and community elders appealed for calm and asked people to let justice take its course.
The sale of takeaway alcohol was banned on Saturday as authorities tried to prevent further unrest.
13THREAD 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Resolution Support Service 1800 211 028
Australia’s Associated Press is the beating heart of Australian news. AAP is Australia’s only independent national news channel and has been providing accurate, reliable and fast-paced news content to the media industry, government and corporate sector for 85 years. We inform Australia.
