FIVE DAYS OF HEARTBREAK… 💔 MAN ACCUSED OVER KUMANJAYI LITTLE BABY’S D!ATH ABSENT AS CASE RETURNS TO COURT
Kumanjayi Little Baby was missing for five days before her remains were found.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned the following article contains names and images of the deceased.
The man accused of murdering five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby in the Northern Territory has had his matter briefly heard in the Darwin Local Court.
Jefferson Lewis, 47, was excused from attending Alice Springs Local Court himself but was represented by lawyers.
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NT Director of Public Prosecutions Pat Williams said “a very substantial” brief of evidence had been served on Lewis.
It included 76 witness statements, 48 segments of body-worn footage, drone footage, CCTV, a record of interview, triple-0 calls and a preliminary post-mortem report.
Prosecutors were awaiting another 20 police statements and an updated civilian witness statements, while a full post-mortem report was expected in the coming days.
“The major outstanding body of evidence relates to forensic evidence,” Williams said.
“The indication … is that there have been over 100 different forensic requests made in the matter for different pieces of testing.”
The immediate family of Kumanjayi Little Baby, which is the name used in line with cultural tradition after her death, did not wish to attend court, however some extended loved ones did wait outside.
The little girl was reported missing on April 26 and was missing for five days.
A massive land and air search was undertaken before her body was found in in bushland about 5km from Alice Springs’ Old Timers camp.
An independent review released on July 21 found multiple red flags were missed by child protection authorities before her death.
Lewis, a man unknown to her, arrested on April 30 following a manhunt and charged with murder.
He remains in custody and has not applied for bail.
The matter has been adjourned until December 3.
