Warning: This story contains images of a deceased Indigenous person.
The Alice Springs man accused of murdering Kumanjayi Little Baby has been excused from appearing at his first court hearing.
Jefferson Lewis, 47, allegedly took the five-year-old girl from her bed at Old Times Aboriginal Camp on April 25. She was found dead by a river bed five days later.
Lewis’ Alice Springs Local Court hearing proceeded in his absence on Tuesday morning after his Legal Aid NT lawyer requested he not be present.
He was expected to appear via video link from custody in Darwin, where he was flown for his own safety on Friday after his arrest sparked a riot.
According to the ABC, prosecutors have requested a lengthy adjournment to Lewis’ case to pull together an extensive brief of evidence.
The matter is due to be heard again on July 30.
Lewis’ appearance was supposed to be live-streamed by NT Courts due to the significant public interest, but the plan was abandoned after technical issues. It would have marked the first time NT Courts had broadcast a criminal proceeding.
A minute’s silence was held in Northern Territory parliament at the same time Lewis’ matter was in court, with politicians wearing pink ribbons to honour Kumanjayi Little Baby.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the chamber’s thoughts were with the little girl’s mother, brother and extended family.
“No words spoken in this chamber can ease the depth of that grief, but we can stand with them in respect, sorrow and solidarity,” she said.
Most of Kumanjayi Little Baby’s family have left the town camp she was snatched from to begin sorry business, a period of cultural practices that occur after an Aboriginal person’s death.
Her grandfather Robin Granites, in a statement on Friday, called for calm in the community and said that now was time for people to grieve.
“It is time now for sorry business, to show respect for our family and have space for grieving and remembering,” he 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.”
The little girl’s cause of death is yet to be made public.
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