An aboriginal man with a long history of violence has been charged with the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl in Alice Springs.
Jefferson Lewis, 47, who was recently released from prison, was charged with one count of murder and two counts of sexual intercourse without consent in relation to the death of aboriginal girl Sharon Granites, Northern Territory Police said on Sunday.
Sharon, who is now being referred to by family as Kumanjayi Little Baby for cultural reasons, went missing from her home in Old Timers Camp on Sunday night, and her body was found 5km away on Thursday.
Lewis was tracked down and bashed by a vigilante group later that day before being arrested at another indigenous town camp and brought to Alice Springs hospital, which was then surrounded by hundreds of angry members of the local aboriginal community.
The 400-strong mob demanded authorities hand over Lewis for tribal justice, destroyed police cars, attacked officers and looted a nearby Shell service station and supermarket during a riot that lasted into Friday morning. Lewis was then flown to Darwin for his safety, and was ruled fit for custody on Friday.
Police have since arrested five people aged 18, 26, 34, 46 and 49 over the rioting, and charges are expected to be laid.
Mob of aboriginals loot and destroy a Shell service station during rioting in Alice Springs.
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NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole said on Sunday investigations were continuing into whether Lewis was assisted after committing his alleged crimes.
“This is a horrific event and a horrific set of circumstances and our thoughts remain strongly with the family and the community as everyone processes the impact of these horrific events,” Mr Dole said.
“This has been an extensive and detailed investigation. Our detectives have been working around the clock to come up with this outcome.
“Mr Lewis is before the court and our job doesn’t stop now.”
He also condemned the rioting, saying it was “not people processing grief in relation to the death” but criminal behaviour.
“It’s abhorrent, it’s disgusting and it will not be tolerated or accepted by the NT police and it should not be accepted by the community,” he said.
Header image: Left, Jefferson Lewis being arrested (supplied). Right, his alleged victim (NT Police).
