Northern Territory police in Australia have charged a 47-year-old man with murder and sexual assault of a 5-year-old girl after she disappeared from a local camp and her body was found in the bush. The incident escalated into violent riots in Alice Springs, where residents stormed a hospital, prompting police to transfer the suspect out of town.
Northern Territory police officials in Australia announced murder and sexual assault charges against 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis following the discovery of the lifeless body of a 5-year-old girl, known by the pseudonym "Kumanjayi Little Baby."
The girl, Kumanjayi, mysteriously disappeared last Saturday night (25 Apr) after her guardians put her to bed at an Indigenous camp near Alice Springs. A large-scale search was launched, and her body was found on Thursday.
The incident has deeply angered the local community. Before Lewis was arrested on Thursday, reports indicated he was attacked and injured, requiring treatment at Alice Springs Hospital.
As a result, a large crowd surrounded the hospital intending to carry out "Payback," a form of traditional Aboriginal retribution. Protesters threw objects and clashed with police, who deployed tear gas to break up the crowd. At least one police vehicle was set on fire, forcing authorities to move Lewis over 1,500 kilometers away to Darwin for his safety and legal proceedings.
Martin Dol, Northern Territory Police Commissioner, condemned the riots as "disgusting and unacceptable," releasing CCTV footage showing opportunistic looters stealing goods from nearby gas stations and supermarkets. He emphasized this was not an expression of grief for the child but criminal behavior.
Initial estimates place property damage and stolen goods at over AUD 180,000 (approximately 4 million baht). Five people have been arrested in connection with the riots.
Commissioner Dol expressed his deepest condolences to Kumanjayi's family and those affected by this tragic event, urging the community to respect the judicial process. Jefferson Lewis is scheduled to appear in Darwin court on 5 May.
. BBC