In Brief
- Community members in Alice Springs clashed with police overnight folloiwng the arrest of Jefferson Lewis.
- Lewis, who has been arrested in relation to the death of a five-year-old girl in Alice Springs, has been moved to Darwin.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story includes the name and image of an Indigenous person who has passed away.
This article may be distressing to some readers.
Violence in Alice Springs overnight following the arrest of a man in connection with the death of a five-year-old girl has been condemned by the Northern Territory police commissioner and the territory's chief minister.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said on Friday that she is hopeful the attacks on police and health workers carried out by 400 "angry people" were an isolated incident and that they "should not define what has been an incredible community effort."
Jefferson Lewis, 47, was found badly beaten in the area where he was arrested on Thursday night and taken to Alice Springs hospital for treatment.
A crowd of around 400 people followed Lewis to the hospital, angry over the perception that police may have been protecting him from traditional lore and calling for "payback" for the death of the young girl. The term refers to traditional punishment under Aboriginal custom in the region.
The body of a girl who police say is believed to be that of the missing child was discovered at around midday on Thursday by police approximately 5km from where she disappeared on Sunday.
Her family have asked for her to be referred to as Kumanjayi Little Baby.
Northern Territory police commissioner Martin Dole told reporters that the behaviour that resulted in the injury of ambulance officers and a fire and rescue officer was "cannot be explained away, excused or accepted".
"Last night, the Northern Territory police apprehended Jefferson Lewis. During that apprehension, our police were assaulted. Ambulance officers were assaulted," Dole said.
"We conveyed Mr Lewis to the Alice Springs hospital, and shortly after, a large crowd gathered and tried to gain access to that hospital and access to Mr Lewis.
"There is absolutely no excuse for violence against emergency services that are just doing their job."
He added that anyone involved in violence would face legal consequences and that a woman had been arrested for attempted arson while trying to set a police vehicle on fire.
Four out of the five St John ambulances had been damaged during the incident, leaving the territory without enough emergency services coverage, Dole said.
He praised those within the community who had helped police and emergency responders in their duties and called for calm in the territory today.
"We've seen incredible support and cohesion across the Alice Springs community in the last five days, and people have stood shoulder to shoulder," he said.
"I'd just like to thank the community for the support that we've seen so far, and call on strong leadership to quell that behaviour today, and hopefully we won't see any more of it continuing."
'Heartfelt condolences'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby "breaks your heart" and has urged the community to come together.
"This is a community that are hurting," Albanese told reporters on Friday.
"We must remember that literally hundreds and hundreds of people came together to search for this young girl before the tragic result, and she was found.
"We want to see the community come together, but we certainly understand people's anger and frustration, and that was expressed, but we want the community to come together."
Finocchiaro said on Thursday that she had spoken with the mother of the girl and "offered our sincerest and heartfelt condolences on the loss of her beautiful little baby girl".
"It is fair to say everyone is feeling this loss acutely; everyone is incredibly devastated. As a mother, as a member of our community, dark days like this rock everyone," she said.
The girl was reported missing from her Old Timers town camp residence in the early hours of Sunday after being put to bed.
Dole had said that "absolute devestation" was felt when officers found Kumanjayi Little Baby's body.
"We poured every resource that we could into this," he said.
"Everyone was holding out hope there would be a different outcome to this.
"When we made that discovery yesterday, it was absolutely devastating for everyone involved."
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner Katie Kiss and national children’s commissioner Deb Tsorbaris expressed their profound sorrow and extended their deepest condolences to the family of Kumanjayi Little Baby.
"This is a heartbreaking and devastating tragedy," Kiss said.
"My thoughts and my deepest sympathies are with her family and loved ones as they face an unimaginable loss.
"No words can ease their grief, but they deserve our compassion, our care and our unwavering support at this time."
Family calls for calm
A spokesperson for the family has urged the community to focus on grieving and Sorry Business during what is a difficult time.
Robin Granites, senior Yapa (Warlpiri) elder and spokesperson for the family of Kumanjayi Little Baby said he understands that emotions are running high.
"What has happened this week is not our way. Our children are precious, of course we are feeling angry and hurt at what has happened," he said in a statement.
"This man has been caught, thanks to community action, and we must now let justice take its course while we take the time to mourn Kumanjayi Little Baby and support our family."
Granites has asked people in bush communities to consider their need to travel to Mparntwe/Alice Springs at this time.
"If you need to come to join Sorry Business, that’s fine. But just come for that, then return home please.
"Now is not the time to be heroes on social media or make trouble.
"We must be mindful Mparntwe is traditional country for Central Arrernte, and East and Western Arrernte as well. We must respect that and their ways.
"We need to be strong for each other, we must respect family and cultural practice. This is the Yapa way."
'A grieving Northern Territory'
On Thursday, Finocchiaro said "around 200 people have worked tirelessly around the clock in searching for this beautiful little girl".
"And for five days every Territorian has had their heart in their throat waiting for the moment when we got the announcement that she had been found safe and well, and that news did not come," she said.
Police said earlier in the day that the body was found 5km south of the town camp, and her family had been formally notified. The police did not disclose the cause of death.
"Now we are focused on a grieving family, a grieving town and a grieving Northern Territory," Finocchiaro said.
Police said Lewis, a recently released prisoner, had been staying at the home where the child lived and went missing at the same time.
Charges are expected to be laid in the coming days, while a significant investigation involving forensic testing is still underway.
No alcohol
Takeaway alcohol sales will be suspended in Alice Springs today, Finocchiaro said.
Limited takeaway services will be in effect on Saturday as well. Alcohol is already highly restricted on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.
Finocchiaro added that she did not want to be "making links" between the violence seen last night and the opening of bottle shops.
This story was produced in collaboration with NITV.
Readers seeking support can ring Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, visit lifeline.org.au. Resources for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders can be found at Headspace: Yarn Safe.
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