Jefferson Lewis charged with murder over death of Kumanjayi Little Baby near Alice Springs | Indigenous Australians

Northern Territory police have charged Jefferson Lewis with murder and two counts of sexual assault over the death of five-year-old Baby Kumanjayi.

The Warlpiri girl disappeared from her bed at a town camp near Alice Springs on Saturday, April 25.

Police said Little Baby Kumanjayi’s mother last saw him in his bed at the camp in the town of Old Timers, or Ilyperenye, at 11.30pm. When she went to check on him at 1.30pm, he was gone.

Hundreds of volunteers mounted a desperate search, but five days later his body was found.

Lewis, 47, was arrested Thursday.

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.

More details to come.