Alice Springs saw significant unrest following the arrest of Jefferson Lewis, apprehended in connection with the alleged murder of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby. Lewis was taken into custody on Thursday night after being found unconscious, according to Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole. The situation escalated with a riot outside Alice Springs Hospital, lasting approximately five hours, where police reported around 200 people confronted emergency services responding to reports of Lewis being assaulted.
Lewis, 47, surrendered to authorities at a town camp on Thursday evening. He was subsequently transported to a hospital in Darwin, where he remains under police watch.
The unrest reportedly subsided by Friday morning. Dole indicated that further arrests were anticipated on Friday. In the wake of the events, Kumanjayi Little Baby's grandfather issued a plea for calm, speaking on Friday. The five-year-old girl was last seen at a camp on the outskirts of Alice Springs late Saturday night, and her body was discovered on Thursday, about 5km from where she went missing. Charges against Lewis are expected in the coming days.
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Background of Events
The events unfolded after Kumanjayi Little Baby was reported missing from her home in the Old Timers Camp area of Alice Springs early Sunday morning. A search ensued for Lewis, who was reportedly last seen with the child. The discovery of the girl's body on Thursday prompted a significant public reaction, culminating in the disturbances outside the hospital following Lewis's arrest. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with projectiles being thrown and police deploying tear gas. Lewis's mother has stated her daughter was "loved and missed."
