Family calls for time to mourn little girl after Alice Springs riot

The family of a five-year-old girl allegedly abducted and murdered have called for calm within the Alice Springs community after a night of intense unrest.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains the image of a person who is deceased.

The family of a five-year-old girl allegedly abducted and murdered have called for calm within the Alice Springs community after a night of intense unrest.

Jefferson Lewis, 47, was arrested by police shortly after 10pm yesterday (10.30pm AEST) and taken to Alice Springs Hospital, where a large crowd assembled outside and demanded that he be handed over to be dealt with by the community.

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It's alleged Lewis was beaten by vigilantes before his arrest, and outside the hospital paramedics and police were also assaulted as the community grappled with grief and anger.

Hours earlier the body of the child, identified as Kumanjayi Little Baby for cultural reasons, was found following a five-day search.

"It is now time for sorry business, to show respect for our family and have space for grieving and remembering," family spokesperson Robin Granites said today.

"If you need to come join sorry business that's fine. But just come for that."

"Sorry business" is described by Indigenous groups as a period of cultural practices that take place after someone's death.

Traditional owners also today urged the Alice Springs community to let the family mourn.

Traditional owner Michael Liddle said what took place last night was an incident of anger which turned into violence "that had no thinking about the consequences".

"All week the community of Alice Springs have come together, searching for a little baby that was taken by a monster," he said.

About 200 people joined the search for the five-year-old, walking through bushland, long grass and up hills in an attempt to find her.

"That hard work was undone last night by some people who are very angry with the systems, the same systems that create safety and less harm, keeping people safe in Alice Springs," Liddle said.

"Through that incident, we had police cars being damaged and ambulance cars being damaged.

"When you take those services out, we've got a scenario of no rules, then people become hurt."

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Liddle told the community there were consequences for bad choices.

"When we woke up this morning, it looked like a cyclone had gone through the place," he said.

"We need to let the family mourn, not create more sadness and angst in our minds and our souls."

Traditional owner Warren Williams echoed Liddle's comments about the violence outside of the hospital and stressed that emergency services helped the community.

"My message is that people should be aware that things like that happen at the hospital last night, it's not tolerated," Williams said.

"A message to women as well, when you're in town or coming into town to do your shopping, be aware that you've got children around you and keep an eye out all the time, otherwise you never know what's prowling around you."

Police warning to associates of suspected child killer

Associates who investigators believe supported and assisted Lewis have been warned they are in police sights.

The 47-year-old has now been moved to Darwin in a bid to ease tensions in the community.

Police Commissioner Martin Dole said this morning that the investigation continued, and that Lewis's arrival at a town camp in Alice Springs last night supported the theory that he had been receiving assistance throughout the week.

"My message to those people is, look out, because we're coming for you as well," he said.

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Following the riots overnight, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro announced today that no takeaway alcohol would be sold in Alice Springs today, and sales would be limited to between 11am and 2pm tomorrow.

It is government policy in the NT to have police officers stand guard at bottleshop doors, but Finocchiaro said it was more important to have those police active in the community in coming days.

"We are very hopeful that was an isolated incident and should not define what has been an incredible community effort this week," she said.

She said extra police would be travelling to Alice Springs from Darwin to bolster local officers. 

Dole also blasted rioters for diverting police resources from the investigation into Lewis.

Chaos outside hospital

Shouts of "they got him" could be heard as violence broke out, with at least one police car set on fire outside the hospital.

Dole told ABC radio a crowd of 400 "angry people" gathered outside the hospital, and he pleaded with the community to let police do their job.

He said several people had been injured in the chaos overnight, including two police officers, two ambulance officers, and one firefighter.

Police were forced to take shelter behind cars and under riot shields.

Footage from the scene shows police yelling for the crowd to "get back" as they press in.

After footage from the scene showed police using firearms and throwing gas canisters, Dole confirmed this morning that non-lethal rounds and chemical deterrents had been used.

Police cars and rubbish bins were set on fire and the windows of a service station across the road from the hospital smashed.

Dole said one police car was destroyed and several more damaged, while four of the five ambulances available to the Alice Springs area were today out of action.

He said investigators were seeking to charge those involved, with one woman already arrested on suspicion of attempted arson on a police car. 

"The behaviour that we saw last night cannot be explained away, excused, or accepted," he said.

"To those people involved, you will face the law just as Jefferson Lewis is facing the law."

A police officer involved in Lewis's arrest required stitches for a head wound, while a firefighter received a facial wound.

Other frontline personnel received soft tissue wounds.

"To go from being distraught and bereft yesterday after hearing about the loss of little Kumanjayi, to now having to deal with probably one of the biggest riots we've seen in Alice Springs ever, it's crazy," NT Legislative Assembly Speaker Robyn Lambley told Today.

"It's really inexplicable."

Lambley said the riot was likely inspired by the ethos of "payback" among some local Indigenous people.

"When somebody is killed or murdered, there is payback," she told Today.

But she said it was the work of a small group of people and that most people, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, in Alice Springs, did not engage in the violence.

Nonetheless, the front of the hospital was "notoriously" a dangerous place, with several murders taking place there in "recent history".

"You can understand people being angry, angry is a normal part of grief," she said of last night's riot, before decrying it as "completely unacceptable".

"There was a woman in labour who could not access the hospital because of the riot," she said.

Devastating discovery

Just before midday on Thursday, Northern Territory police found the body of a girl they said was five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby, as she is now referred to in line with local Indigenous customs.

The girl had vanished over the weekend, believed to have been taken by a man police identified as Jefferson Lewis.

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Just after 10pm overnight (10.32pm AEST), police announced a breakthrough they had vowed to make.

"A short time ago, the Northern Territory Police Force located and arrested Jefferson Lewis at a residence in Alice Springs," they said in a statement.

"Further information will be provided early in the morning."

Dole confirmed this morning that police were called to a town camp where Lewis had been subjected to a "sustained attack", while paramedics and police were also assaulted when they arrived.

"At the time of his apprehension by us, (Lewis) was unconscious," Dole said.

Lewis had been the only person police said they were seeking in relation to the suspected abduction of the little girl.

Dole said Lewis had been transferred to Darwin for his own safety and that of police and hospital staff, and that he had been listed as "fit for custody" by health services.

Charges are expected to be laid in coming days. Dole said "significant investigation" was ongoing, including forensic testing.

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Robin Granites, senior Yapa (Warlpiri) elder and spokesperson for the family of Kumantjayi Little Baby, this morning appealed for calm across the Central Australian community today.

"It is time now for sorry business, to show respect for our family and have space for grieving and remembering," he said.

"Everyone is feeling very upset and emotions are very high, I understand that. 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."

But he said the community "must let justice take its course".

"Now is not the time to be heroes on social media or make trouble," he said.

Broken hearts for 'a little queen'

In a statement on Thursday afternoon, the child's mother and brother said they were devastated by her death.

"To Kumanjayi Little Baby, me and [your brother] Ramsiah miss and love you," the statement said.

"I know you are in heaven with the rest of the family with Jesus, and the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

"Me and your brother will meet you one day, we are giving our lives to Jesus.

"It is going to be so hard to live the rest of our lives without you.

"Ramsiah wants to tell you that when he sees you in heaven he is going to give you the biggest hug ever.

"Love from Mum and Ramsiah."

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The little girl's grandfather, Robin Granites, showed 9News where his granddaughter had been sleeping.

She had been staying there the night with her mother.

"It really hurts me saying it but she was just a little queen for us, she was a little daughter, she was just a little lady," he said.

The five-year-old's aunt, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, said in a statement tonight the discovery was "devastating".

"As part of her extended family, this loss is deeply felt," Price said.

"This is the worst possible outcome, and no child should ever be placed in harm's way.

"Police have made it clear this is a serious criminal investigation and they will pursue those responsible.

"Right now, the focus must be on supporting her family and allowing police to do their work."

Lambley told Today it was "the saddest story" she had ever heard.

"I think all along I believed this little girl would survive, that we'd find her safe and well," she said.

"And for this man to be still at large up until last night - it's just been the most horrific story you can imagine."

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'We're coming for you'

Police said the little girl's body was found about 5 kilometres south of Old Timers community camp.

Northern Territory Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Malley said earlier on Thursday that the focus of detectives was firmly on tracking down Lewis.

"I say to the family of Jefferson Lewis that we believe he's murdered this child," Malley said.

"Do not assist him, get him to the police station and we'll look after him.

"And I say to Jefferson Lewis: we're coming for you."

Police Commissioner Martin Dole said the discovery of the girl's body was the "worst possible outcome".

"This is an incredibly distressing development," he said.

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Dole said her family has been formally notified by police.

He said officers were not in a position today to provide answers around the cause of the girl's death or how long she may have been dead.

"A post-mortem examination will be conducted, likely tomorrow, and that will be a critical step in establishing those facts.

"The criminal investigation is ongoing and a coronial inquest will now also begin.

"As a result, there will now be limitations on what we can say publicly."

Dole described the news as "devastating" for the family of Kumanjayi Little Baby, first responders, the Alice Springs community and everyone around Australia who has been worried about her.

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"The support shown during the time has been overwhelming."

The girl was reported missing about 1.30am on Sunday.

Yesterday, police revealed they had found clothing on the riverbank near Old Timers Camp during their search.

Malley said the items had been taken to Darwin for analysis.

"We located two DNA profiles [on clothing]... one, as expected, belongs to the little girl and the other belongs to Jefferson Lewis."

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'Dark days like this rock everyone'

NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro spoke with the five-year-old's mother to offer her "sincerest and heartfelt condolences" over the phone today.

"Right now we are focused on a grieving family, a grieving town and a grieving Northern Territory," she said.

"As our police have said, we now focus our energy in making sure we find the person who did this and bring them to justice."

Finocchiaro took the opportunity to thank the volunteers who assisted with search efforts.

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"Around 200 people have worked tirelessly around the clock in searching for this beautiful little girl who went missing five days ago," she said.

"For five days, every Territorian has had their heart in their throat waiting for the moment waiting for the moment when we got the announcement that she had been found safe and well.

"That news did not come and it's fair to say that everyone is feeling this loss acutely, everyone is incredibly devastated by the outcome.

"Our hearts are all with people grieving this loss and my thanks go to every single person who volunteered to walk through the bush, to walk through the long grass, to walk up the hills, to do everything that they could to find her.

"To our police and emergency services who've done an incredible job and now focus their energy on bringing the person who did this to justice.

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"I thank everyone and I ask the Alice Springs community to really rally around each other at this devastating time.

"As a mother, as a member of our community, dark days like this rock everyone and the heartbreak of this is real.

"I've also spoken to our colleague Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who is the aunty of Kumanjayi Little Baby.

"Over the days and weeks, we stick together as Territorians, like we always do.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone at this absolutely awful time."

For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).