Former top cop Karen Webb to launch new investigation into the alleged murder of Kumanjayi Little Baby

Former NSW police commissioner Karen Webb will co-lead an independent investigation into the conduct of the Northern Territory government in relation to the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby.

The five-year-old was allegedly kidnapped from an Alice Springs town camp and murdered last month. Jefferson Lewis, 47, has been charged with her murder.

Just days after her body, it was revealed the NT’s Department of Children and Families had received six child protection reports about the little girl in the weeks prior to her death.

The reports alleged Kumanjayi Little Baby was living in a dangerous environment, had been neglected and was exposed to domestic violence.

Ms Webb, who left the NSW Police force last year, will examine the management of Kumanjayi Little Baby’s case, including all relevant interactions with, and preceding events reported to, the Department.

Webb will be joined by long-time NT public servant Greg Shanahan.

Their investigation will also look at all reports, notifications, complaints, or other information provided to the Department, and the adequacy, timeliness and appropriateness of the Department’s response to those protection concerns.

It will also evaluate whether relevant legislative, policy and procedural requirements were complied with by the Department.

Last week, the NT’s Minister for Child Protection, Robyn Cahill, confirmed that three child protection staff had been stood down.

Cahill said she had contacted the department on Monday, April 27 – the day after Kumanjayi Little Baby had been reported missing – to ask if any notifications had been received about her welfare and didn’t get a response until Friday. 

The Minister has also announced the NT Government will overhaul child protection legislation to introduce earlier intervention for vulnerable children at risk.

The existing legislation states that if an Aboriginal child is removed from their family, they must be placed with a family member first and only with an non-Indigenous carer as a last resort.

However the new changes will see the emphasis be placed on the safety of the child.

Webb, who was appointed as NSW’s police commissioner in 2022, stood down from the post in June amid ongoing criticism about her performance.

She came under intense scrutiny after admitting to reporters that she’d not watched the police bodycam footage days after a senior constable tasered a 95-year-old woman at a nursing home in 2023.

Webb was also criticised for her performance during the investigation into the 2024 alleged murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davis, when she said she was ‘grateful’ to accused killer Beau Lamarre-Condon for co-operating with detectives.

She sparked further controversy months later after it revealed her office spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to give out bottles of gin as gifts.