Northern Territory murder charge after death of five-year-old girl sparks riots in Alice Springs

Police in Australia's Northern Territory have charged a 47-year-old man with murder and two counts of sexual assault after the death of a five-year-old girl.

The case has also triggered violent riots in Alice Springs, with five people arrested over the unrest.

The girl, identified only as Kumanjayi Little Baby for cultural reasons, was found dead on Thursday after several days of a major police search.

Jefferson Lewis was charged on Saturday night and is due to appear in a Darwin court on Tuesday.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole said the matter remained deeply distressing and asked the community to respect the judicial process.

Police said Lewis was moved from Alice Springs to Darwin, about 1,500km away, after he was reportedly attacked in the central Australian town.

The unrest has added a public order dimension to an already serious criminal case.

Police said video showed dozens of people outside Alice Springs hospital on Thursday night, with some throwing projectiles and officers using tear gas.

Authorities also said protesters attacked police vehicles and that at least one van appeared to be set ablaze.

#NorthernTerritory #AliceSprings #Darwin #murdercharge #riots