Northern Territory police charged 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis on Saturday evening with murder in the killing of an Indigenous girl known as Kumanjayi Little Baby. Lewis was also charged with two other offences that cannot be publicly disclosed for legal reasons and is scheduled to appear in court in Darwin on Tuesday.

The girl disappeared from an Indigenous community camp, prompting a days-long search by foot, horseback and helicopter of the surrounding dense bushland. Her body was found on Thursday.

Lewis had past convictions for physical assault and had recently been released from prison.

Late on Thursday, roughly 400 Indigenous people protested near Alice Springs. Locals found the suspect and beat him unconscious. A crowd clashed with police as Lewis was treated in hospital after his arrest, demanding officers hand over the suspect so they could punish him themselves. Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, and several people were arrested over what authorities described as a riot.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: "This is the tragic outcome we were all desperately hoping against. No words can measure up to the immensity of the grief her family is going through."

Robin Granites, a spokesman for the family and an elder of the Warlpiri Indigenous group, said: "It is time now for sorry business, to show respect for our family and have space for grieving and remembering."

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole said: "This is a horrific event and a horrific set of circumstances, and our thoughts remain strongly with the family."

The victim is known as Kumanjayi Little Baby in line with Indigenous custom. Indigenous Australians have inhabited the land for about 50,000 years and account for 3.8 percent of the Australian population. Thousands of Indigenous Australians, including the victim and her family, live in camp communities where housing and services are limited.