Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander readers are warned this contains distressing content, and includes an image of a deceased Indigenous person, used with permission from her family.
The alleged killer of a five-year-old girl in Alice Springs has been flown to Darwin after hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital demanding “payback”.
Jefferson Lewis, 47, was arrested at 10.30pm last night over the alleged murder of Kumanjayi Little Baby. (The girl’s family has requested this name now be used for her.)
The Warlpiri girl had been missing from her home since Saturday night, prompting one of the Northern Territory’s largest ever searches. She was found dead yesterday morning.
Violence erupts outside Alice Springs Hospital
NT Police issued a warning to Lewis that they were “coming for you”, but it was members of the local community who found him first. ABC News reports that he was beaten before being located by police at a camp outside Alice Springs, requiring hospitalisation.
He was taken to Alice Springs Hospital where around 400 people gathered, demanding traditional “payback” justice be carried out.
According to local reports, the crowd began throwing rocks and sticks at the police barricade, and set a parked police car on fire. Police responded with pepper spray.
Arrernte man Harley Myers told ABC News that people had gathered because they were hurt by the news. “The feeling is that [the police] are protecting this guy. They are shooting us with rubber bullets,” he said. “It’s like the system is not sticking up for us and letting us get our own traditional payback. We’re united because it hurts all of us … because she was only five years old and it could happen to any of our kids. I don’t want that to happen to any of our kids at all.”
NT police commissioner Martin Dole called for calm, confirming Lewis had been moved out of safety concerns for himself, police, and hospital and medical staff.
“I understand that people are grieving and I understand that people are upset, but please let the police do their job,” Dole said.
“I have been a police officer for 30 years and these jobs still rock you to the core. We just implore people in Alice Springs that assist us, just to reach out for that help, support one another, talk about what you went through.”
Police have yet to provide updates on arrests in relation to the violence.
Kumanjayi Little Baby’s family mourn her
Kumanjayi Little Baby’s mum released a statement via NT Police after her daughter’s body was found.
“Me and Ramsiah miss and love you,” the statement read.
“I know you are in heaven with the rest of the family with Jesus and the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Me and your brother will meet you one day. We are giving our lives to Jesus. It is going to be so hard to live the rest of our lives without you. Ramsiah wants to tell you that when he sees you in heaven, he is going to give you the biggest hug ever.”
The family thanked everyone involved in the search, including volunteers, local and interstate police, and land council.
A formal autopsy is expected to be completed today.
Lead photo: Nine / NT Police.
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