Jefferson Lewis Charged with Murder, Sexual Assault of Five-Year-Old Kumanjayi Little Baby

Jefferson Lewis, 47, has been charged with murder and two counts of sexual assault in connection with the death of a five-year-old girl in Australia’s Northern Territory. The child, known for cultural reasons as Kumanjayi Little Baby, disappeared from an Aboriginal town camp near Alice Springs last Saturday and her body was located on Thursday.

Lewis is scheduled to appear in a Darwin court on Tuesday. Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole announced the charges on Sunday, expressing condolences to Kumanjayi’s family and the affected community, while urging respect for the judicial process.

The charges follow widespread unrest in Alice Springs. Lewis reportedly sustained an attack in the town prior to his arrest on Thursday. Subsequently, he was transferred to Darwin, approximately 1,500km north, due to violent disturbances outside the Alice Springs hospital where he was receiving treatment. Footage shows dozens gathered, throwing projectiles, with police deploying tear gas and at least one police vehicle appearing to be set alight.

Commissioner Dole condemned the riots, describing them as “disgusting” and “abhorrent”. Further footage released by police depicted crowds swarming a petrol station near the hospital, taking items from shelves. Dole stated this was “criminal behaviour, plain and simple,” not an expression of grief. Police estimate property damage and theft from a petrol station and supermarket exceed AUD#180,000.

Reports indicate some individuals outside the hospital demanded Lewis face “payback,” a term referring to traditional punishment under Aboriginal customary law, and accused police of protecting him.