The man accused of murdering Kumanjayi Little Baby was allegedly seen with a children’s pram when he was found hiding by a group of vigilantes.
Jefferson Lewis, 47, was charged with murder on Sunday, a week after the five-year-old girl was allegedly abducted from an Indigenous town camp near Alice Springs on April 25.
Her body was located in bushland near the banks of the Todd River on Thursday following a five-day widespread search.
Hours later, Lewis was set up upon by residents at another nearby Indigenous camp and later arrested.
A group of young boys was the first to spot Lewis at Charles Creek Camp after recognising him from news reports.
They stumbled across him holding a stick and lying in long grass behind a shipping container on the outskirts of the camp.
Lewis is understood to have attempted to run away, and the boys screamed out for help.
Within seconds they began raining down blows. Makeshift weapons, including rocks, sticks, and a pram, were allegedly used during the confrontation.
Kumanjayi Little Baby’s body was found south of Alice Springs on Thursday
Jefferson Lewis was allegedly seen pushing a children’s doll pram hours which was then used in a confrontation with vigilantes hours after Kumanjayi Little Baby’s body was found
An abandoned pram and a pink plastic unicorn toy were found when Daily Mail visited the scene where Lewis was arrested three nights earlier.
The site was strewn with medical debris used by paramedics to treat Lewis, including bandages, rubber gloves, and face masks
‘I was driving into town and I got lit up (by police) and he went straight past me so I zoomed home and all this was happening,’ a local told the NT News.
‘Everyone was here, police, everyone and he (Lewis) was on the floor.
‘Apparently he was pushing the pram, I heard, and then the young fellas saw him and bashed him.
‘A couple of young fellas told me they had chased him from Hungry Jack’s.
‘Everyone heard quick and half of Alice Springs came here.’
Another local told Daily Mail: ‘They wanted to break his legs.
A pink toy unicorn was found near an abandoned pram and medical debris at the scene where Jefferson Lewis was arrested last Thursday night
Jefferson Lewis has been charged with the murder of Kumanjayi Little Baby
‘At first he tried to get away but he had no chance. They surrounded him.
‘They were jumping on him, kicking him, smashing rocks into his head.’
Lewis was bashed and rushed to hospital under police guard, when a riot then unfolded.
More than 400 people gathered outside the building, throwing rocks at the windows as the furious crowd screamed for Lewis to be brought outside.
They only dispersed when police deployed tear gas, but dozens remained on the street behind the hospital, with one woman claiming some attendees had ‘smashed a cop car up’ in retaliation. Others were seen throwing projectiles at officers.
It resulted in a restriction of takeaway alcohol sales in the outback town on the weekend and Lewis being transferred to Darwin.
Lewis is expected appear in court via videolink on Tuesday. He remains in custody
Meanwhile, Kumanjayi Little Baby’s family have renewed calls for peace and respect.
A community vigil for Kumanjayi Little Baby will be held in Alice Springs this Thursday night
‘It is time now for sorry business,’ a senior Warlpiri elder said.
‘Everyone is feeling very upset and emotions are very high. Our children are precious, of course we are feeling angry and hurt at what has happened.’
A community vigil will be held at Anzac Oval in Alice Springs this Thursday night from 5.30pm.
Mourners are urged to bring electric candles and wear pink in honour of Kumanjayi Little Baby.
‘There is this sense of collective grieving and respect being paid to the family and kin who are in sorry business right now,’ Alice Springs mayor Asta Hill told ABC Radio National on Monday.
‘There is also a really palpable determination to support one another, particularly the family.’
There will also be a tribute at the Bangtail Muster parade, an annual parade through the main street of Alice Springs, which will go ahead as planned on Monday with the wishes of Kumanjayi Little Baby’s family.
Food drops have been organised to support the town camp where the little girl lived.
