The family of a five-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered after she disappeared from her home on Anzac Day has slammed the Northern Territory legal system for failing to provide the grieving relatives with information.
Kumanjayi Little Baby – the name used after her death at her family’s request in line with cultural protocols – was put to bed by her mother at about 11pm on April 25.
It is alleged Jefferson Lewis, 47, snatched her from her bed, then disappeared into nearby bushland. Kumanjayi Little Baby was found dead near Alice Springs on Thursday.
Lewis was arrested later that day at another Alice Springs town camp after being beaten unconscious by locals. He was charged with her murder and other offences on Sunday.
The matter was first heard in court on Tuesday, during which the accused killer was remanded in custody and excused from appearing via videolink.
But the family of Kumanjayi Little Baby, whose first language is Warlpiri, has criticised the way the court and lawyers failed to communicate with them.
‘It all happened in there and those people in there didn’t even tell us what was going on,’ Senior Warlpiri elder and Kumanjayi’s kinship grandfather, Robin Japanangka Granites told ABC News on Wednesday.
‘They didn’t even tell us any time (for the hearing), nothing at all.’
Kumanjayi Little Baby (pictured) – the name used after her death at her family’s request in line with cultural protocols – was allegedly murdered after she disappeared from her home near Alice Springs on Anzac Day
Her family (pictured) has slammed the Northern Territory legal system for failing to provide them with proper information during her accused killer’s first court hearing
Pictured, people place tributes on a fence for Kumanjayi Little Baby
Mr Granites said the family was not told the planned livestream for the hearing had been cancelled at the last minute due to technical difficulties.
‘There was no one to represent my family at the courthouse, not even the mum of a baby, the girl that we lost, not even the interpreters, there was no one there to interpret for our people,’ he said.
‘When the families are out there, they should be coming out and giving us all the updates, even the lawyers, but there were no lawyers to come out and talk to us.’
‘The matter was scheduled to commence at 9.30am on May 5, 2026 and proceeded in open court around 10am,’ a court spokesman told Daily Mail.
‘Due to the importance of the matter it was given priority on the day. Unfortunately, the court was not notified that there were family making their way to court to attend.’
Daily Mail contacted the Director of Public Prosecutions for comment.
The matter was adjourned, with the next hearing scheduled for July 30.
Police continue to investigate looting and violence that erupted following Lewis’s arrest, including extensive damage to local businesses.
Jefferson Lewis (pictured) has been charged with the murder of Kumanjayi
Police are investigating looting and violence that erupted after Lewis’s arrest
They have released footage of chaotic scenes as dozens of looters poured into a service station to steal stock. The station was trashed and staff cars were damaged.
NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole insisted the behaviour had nothing to do with grief or cultural law.
A number of people handed themselves in and more than a dozen arrests have been made over the unrest, with more charges expected as investigators review hundreds of hours of CCTV and body-worn video.
Accused looters were being charged with aggravated burglary and stealing, police said.
Officers are also searching for people they believe sheltered Lewis before his arrest.
Mr Granites has previously called for calm and asked politicians to respect the family’s ‘sorry time’, a reference to a period of cultural mourning.
He said the family was relieved a man would face court over the death of their ‘little queen’.
‘We must now let the justice system do its work,’ he said previously.
‘We do need to work together on this, on many issues facing our people and communities here in central Australia.
‘But our little baby’s passing must not become a politician’s issue or an argument.’
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
