Man charged with murder of five-year-old Australian indigenous girl whose death sparked riot

A man has been charged with murdering a five-year-old girl in central Australia, days after her killing sparked a riot.

Jefferson Lewis, 47, was also charged with two other offences, which cannot be disclosed for legal reasons.

He is accused of killing Kumanjayi Little Baby, named in line with indigenous cultural practices that avoid naming the deceased.

"This is an ‌horrific event and an horrific set of circumstances, and our thoughts remain strongly with the family," Northern Territory ​Police Commissioner Martin Dole said.

Lewis will appear in court in the Northern Territory's capital, Darwin, on Tuesday.

He has previous convictions for physical assault and had recently been released from prison.

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The killing of the girl and capture of the suspect, who was found and beaten unconscious by locals, led to violent confrontations after around 400 indigenous people protested near Alice Springs on Thursday.

Some protesters threw projectiles and lit fires, injuring a number of police officers and medical workers and damaging police vehicles, ambulances and fire trucks.

TV footage showed members of the crowd calling for what they consider justice under customary law, which can involve spearing or beating.

Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, local officials and a spokesperson for the victim's family called for calm.

(c) Sky News 2026: Man charged with murder of five-year-old Australian indigenous girl whose death sparked riot