Thirteen individuals have been charged after a mob stormed a petrol station and supermarket during unrest triggered by the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby.
Last Thursday, authorities discovered the body of a child, believed to be that of the missing five-year-old girl, following an exhaustive five-day search.
Police later apprehended the man suspected of her murder, 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis, on the same night. He was subsequently taken into custody and transported to Alice Springs Hospital.
The arrest spurred violent protests outside the hospital as a heartbroken crowd demanded that Lewis be released to face community justice.
As tensions eased and the crowd began to disperse, dozens of individuals descended upon the Shell Express and Piggly’s Supermarket located in The Gap.
Surveillance footage captured the scene as people ransacked the aisles of the petrol station, seizing various items from the shelves.
Police said about $105,000 worth of property was stolen and $80,000 of damage caused.
CCTV footage released by police shows people ransacking the aisles of the petrol station and taking items from the shelves.
Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole said the behaviour was “not people processing grief in relation to the death of Baby Kumanjayi”.
Police have since charged four women and three men with aggravated burglary and theft.
Two of the women, aged 26 and 24, were charged with two counts of each offence.
Another 36-year-old woman was charged with one count each of aggravated burglary, theft and breach of suspended sentence.
A 26-year-old man was charged with one count each of aggravated burglary, theft and breach of suspended sentence.
A 32-year-old man was charged with two counts each of aggravated burglary and theft and one count of breach of suspended sentence.
A 29-year-old man was charged with two counts of aggravated burglary and theft and one count each of damage of property, attempt arson and armed with an offensive weapon at night.
A 36-year-old man was charged with one count each of unlawfully cause serious harm, aggravated assault and breach of DVO.
A 49-year-old man was charged with one count of breach of bail and one count of breach of suspended sentence.
Repairman Kim Shegog told 9News the lost stock came at a cost for the business.
“We had a skip (bin), we filled the skip up with all the food,” he said.
“All of the food that had use-by dates had to be disposed because it’s going to be two to three weeks to get the place back up and running again.”
Northern Territory Police acting superintendent Michael Ordelman denounced the alleged behaviour.
“The businesses involved have suffered extensive monetary loss,” Ordelman said.
Jefferson Lewis was yesterday charged with the murder of Kumanjayi Little Baby.
He is expected to appear in court tomorrow.
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