A funeral service for Kumanjayi Little Baby, a five-year-old girl whose body was found south of Alice Springs on April 30, is being held on Saturday at the Alice Springs Garden Cemetery, with hundreds of community members expected to attend. The service begins at 10am Australian Central Standard Time.
Funeral held in Alice Springs for Kumanjayi Little Baby, five-year-old girl found dead in April
A funeral service for Kumanjayi Little Baby, a five-year-old girl whose body was found south of Alice Springs on April 30, is being held on Saturday at the Alice Springs Garden Cemetery, with hundreds of community members expected to attend. The service begins at 10am Australian Central Standard Time.
Kumanjayi Little Baby — referred to by that name since her death for cultural reasons — was discovered deceased after hundreds of volunteers spent days searching scrub south of Alice Springs. Jefferson Lewis, 47, has been charged with her murder.
Since her death, Kumanjayi Little Baby's family has been in cultural grieving, known as sorry business. Her grandfather, Robin Japanangka Granites, invited the Alice Springs community to attend and encouraged those present to wear pink, described as her favourite colour.
Speaking to the ABC last week, Granites said the period had been difficult for the family but that they were coming together for the funeral. He also thanked community members for their support during the search and subsequent period of grieving.
Alice Springs Mayor Asta Hill said she expected the service to be a healing experience. "It's going to be a really difficult day, of course, but there is also a lot of beauty and generosity in our community spirit, which I think is really highlighted in the way that day's been planned," she said.
- The source does not state the current status or stage of court proceedings against Jefferson Lewis following the murder charge.
- The source does not state the circumstances in which Kumanjayi Little Baby was taken or how she came to be found south of Alice Springs.
- The source does not state the exact number of volunteers who participated in the search.
- The source does not state whether Jefferson Lewis has entered a plea or been committed for trial.
Read the original at ABC News Australia