A man has been charged with sexually assaulting and murdering a five-year-old girl after she vanished from her outback home.
Jefferson Lewis, 47, was apprehended by police in an Alice Springs town camp late on Thursday.
He had been beaten unconscious by locals and was taken to hospital, where a riot erupted as angry residents demanded access and that he face immediate traditional justice.
Lewis was flown to Darwin by the NT Police air wing for his own safety and that of hospital staff.
On Sunday, police announced Lewis 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 also faced two charges of sexually assaulting her and was remanded in custody of an expected appearance in Darwin Local Court on Tuesday.
The arrest followed a massive bushland search for the girl and Lewis over a period of five days.
The five-year-old’s body was found in bushland on Thursday, prompting an outpouring of grief and anger in the community.
Lewis had been out of prison for only six days.
Five emergency service personnel were injured in the initial riot and police vehicles and ambulances were damaged, including one police car torched.
Police are tracking down the rioters to charge them over the violence.
They are also looking for people they believed sheltered Lewis before his arrest.
The family of the five-year-old girl and community elders have called for calm, asking people to let justice take its course.
Takeaway alcohol sales were banned on Saturday as authorities attempt to stem further unrest.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
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