Violence Outside Hospital Following Arrest
Warning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers: this article contains references to someone who has died.
Violence occurred outside a hospital in Alice Springs, Australia, where a man suspected of murdering a five-year-old girl was receiving treatment. Jefferson Lewis was arrested late Thursday night local time after being spotted by members of the local community and reportedly attacked.
Video footage shows dozens of people gathering outside the town's hospital, with some throwing projectiles. Police responded by deploying tear gas to control the crowd.
Discovery of the Victim
The body of the girl, identified only as Kumanjayi Little Baby for cultural reasons, was found earlier on Thursday. She had last been seen on Saturday night when she was put to bed at an Aboriginal town camp near Alice Springs just before midnight.
Community Reaction and Traditional Law
According to Australia's national broadcaster, the ABC, approximately 400 Aboriginal people gathered outside the hospital, shouting that Lewis should face "payback" and accusing police of protecting him. "Payback" refers to traditional punishment under Aboriginal law in Central Australia.
The crowd chanted that Lewis should be killed for his alleged attack on Kumanjayi Little Baby, as reported by the ABC.
Video from the scene shows crowds throwing items at police, with several police vehicles appearing to have been damaged.
Police Response and Injuries
Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole told the ABC that Lewis was unconscious when officers found him. He stated that about 200 people turned on police and paramedics as they responded to reports that Lewis was being assaulted.
Several individuals, including members of emergency services, sustained injuries during the unrest. However, no arrests have been made in connection with the violent disorder.
"The scenes outside the hospital were not acceptable and were not reflective of what we've seen from the community of Alice Springs in the last five days," Commissioner Dole said.
Lewis has since been flown from Alice Springs to Darwin and is now in police custody, according to Dole. Charges are expected to be filed against him in the coming days.
Ongoing Investigations
Forensic tests to confirm the young girl's identity and determine the cause of death are scheduled to continue on Friday.
Police had been searching nearby bushland and desert areas for Lewis, who was released from prison six days before Kumanjayi Little Baby disappeared, which occurred around the same time.
"Everyone involved in the search for her had been holding out hope of finding her alive," Dole said. "When we made that discovery yesterday [it was] absolutely devastating for everybody involved."
Family Statement and Community Support
In a statement, Kumanjayi Little Baby's mother, who remains unnamed, expressed her grief and love for her daughter.
"It is going to be so hard to live the rest of our lives without you."
"We know you are in heaven with the rest of the family and Jesus. Me and your brother will meet you one day."
The mother also extended gratitude to the numerous police officers and volunteers who dedicated days to searching the area around Old Timers Camp, a government-designated site for Aboriginal people staying in Alice Springs.
"Around 200 people have worked tirelessly around the clock in searching for this beautiful little girl who went missing five days ago," Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said.
"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... Everyone is incredibly devastated."
Cultural Protocols
It is important to note that using the names of deceased individuals, as well as broadcasting their image or voice, breaches cultural protocols around mourning in many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and cannot be done without the permission of their families.
