
Outback mockery of justice: vigilante clashes erupt as alleged child killer is arrested in Alice Springs
Violent crowds in Alice Springs clashed with police outside a remote hospital after the arrest of Jefferson Lewis, accused of murdering five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby, a member of the Warlpiri community. Rioters attacked police vehicles and threw objects as officers used tear gas; the Northern Territory Police Commissioner called the scene “absolute anarchy.” Indigenous leaders urged calm and mourning for the child, while authorities said they will prosecute those involved. The incident highlights long-standing tensions between NT police and Indigenous communities, and comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the handling of violence against Indigenous people in Australia.











