Jefferson Lewis charged with murder over death of Kumanjayi Little Baby near Alice Springs | Indigenous Australians

Northern Territory police have charged Jefferson Lewis with murder over the death of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby.

The Warlpiri girl went missing on Saturday, 25 April, from her bed in a town camp near Alice Springs.

Kumanjayi Little Baby’s mother last saw her at 11.30pm, tucked into bed at the Old Timers or Ilyperenye town camp, police said. When she went to check on her at 1.30am, she was gone.

Hundreds of volunteers carried out a desperate search but after five days, her body was found.

On Sunday, NT police announced Lewis, 47, had been charged with murdering Kumanjayi Little Baby, the name used after her death at her family’s request in line with cultural traditions.

He was remanded in custody of an expected appearance in Darwin local court on Tuesday.