Police have charged Jefferson Lewis with the murder of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby.
Lewis, 47, is suspected of taking Kumanjayi Little Baby from a house at Old Timers Camp, 6km south of Alice Springs, where he was staying last week.
Police allege the 47-year-old crept into the room on Saturday where the five-year-old girl had been put to bed on a mattress, before sneaking her out via the side door sparking a massive manhunt for the pair.
Her body was found 5km south of Alice Springs on Thursday morning.
Authorities located Lewis on Thursday night with significant injuries after a group of vigilantes found him.
He was later transported to Darwin while receiving medical treatment.
NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole confirmed Lewis was charged with one count of murder on Saturday evening.
‘This is a horrific event and a horrific set of circumstances and our thoughts remain strongly with the family and the community as everyone processes the impact of these horrific events,’ Commissioner Dole told reporters on Sunday morning.
Police have charged Jefferson Lewis with the murder of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby
The little girl’s family asked that she be referred to as Kumanjayi Little Baby. Kumanjayi is a substitute name used by Warlpiri people for a deceased person to avoid the taboo of speaking their name after death
Police Commissioner Martin Dole said Lewis was interviewed by detectives on Saturday
‘This has been an extensive and detailed investigation. Our detectives have been working around the clock to come up with this outcome.’
Commissioner Dole wouldn’t confirm if police have identified any individuals who had assisted Lewis during his five days on the run, however said ‘investigations are continuing.’
Lewis is expected to appear before Darwin Local Court this week.
It comes as five people have been arrested in relation to riotous behaviour that occurred in Alice Springs on Thursday night.
Police had to use tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets against the crowd which descended on Alice Springs Hospital where Lewis was receiving treatment.
NT Police said a service station and a supermarket in The Gap were subject to riotous behaviour and aggravated burglaries which caused significant damages and property loss estimated at a total of $105,000 stolen and $80,000 in damages.
Five people aged between 18, 26, 34, 46 and 49 have all been arrested and remain in custody with charges expected to follow.
Commissioner Dole said the rioting was ‘not people processing grief in relation to the death of baby Kumanjayi’, but was criminal behaviour ‘plain and simple.’
Authorities located Lewis on Thursday night with significant injuries after he was beaten by a group of vigilantes
Violence broke out in Alice Springs after Lewis’s arrest which caused significant damage to local businesses
‘It’s abhorrent, it’s disgusting and it will not be tolerated or accepted by the NT police and it should not be accepted by the community,’ he said.
‘If you recognise anyone involved or if you were involved, I’d encourage you to contact NT Police or hand yourself in before we come for you.’
Anyone with information, including CCTV or dash cam, is urged to contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
More to come.
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