Police Minister Kate Worden has confirmed a 14-week-old baby was among the dead. (ABC News: Samantha Jonscher)
The deaths of three people — including a baby — who were found dead at a remote outback property in Central Australia a week ago are being treated as a murder-suicide, the Northern Territory's police minister has confirmed.
Police have since provided few details about the "horrific" deaths, including the age of the baby, whether the gun found nearby was used in the deaths or was registered, the relationship between those involved, or whether it was being investigated as a murder-suicide.
One week after an investigation was launched, Police Minister Kate Worden, who is also the domestic violence minister, took the unusual step of confirming several unknown details exclusively to the ABC.
About 100 people attended yesterday's vigil to remember the mother and her baby, who died. (ABC News: Xavier Martin)
She confirmed the baby who died was 14-weeks-old, and that the deaths were being treated as a murder-suicide, with the man in possession of the gun.
"This is an instance, involving a man, woman and a 14-week-old infant, barely starting out in life," she told the ABC.
"My understanding is that they [the woman and man] were in a relationship.
At yesterday's vigil in Alice Springs, domestic violence researcher Dr Chay Brown said the lack of public information had led to "a whole bunch of conjecture" and harmful comments on social media.
"We really need police to come out as soon as they're legally able to, to clarify", she told the crowd.
A family safety group told the crowd at yesterday's vigil that the "violence must stop". (ABC News: Xavier Martin)
Minister defends police over lack of detail
In her interview, Ms Worden defended the limited information police had provided to the public.
"I think the police understand their business better than you and I, and what's important is that they have that amount of time to work through things to get it right," she said.
Police initially providing the incorrect age of the woman who died was not what should be focused on, Ms Worden said.
Kate Worden is also the Northern Territory's first domestic violence minister. (ABC News)
Dr Brown said the mood at yesterday's vigil was one of grief, but sadly, not shock.
"This happens too frequently, we are repeatedly living this grief," she said.
"This is the fourth [alleged] domestic violence [fatal incident] in Alice Springs in the last 18 months."
Cecily Arabie from Tangentyere Women's Family Safety Group told the crowd that "violence must stop".
"Our hearts are hurting … but our voices say 'enough," she said.
Ms Worden said that there were still many questions that would be answered in the future, but that would take some time.
"This will ultimately be in front of the coroner. I have no doubt about that. So I think you have to allow police the time to [investigate]," she said.
People yesterday laid flowers for the mother and her child who died in an alleged domestic violence incident. (ABC News: Xavier Martin)
At the vigil, gender-based violence specialist Rachel Neary described the woman who died as "a really great mum".
"We know that she fought hard for her kids and there isn't much that she wouldn't do for her kids," she said.
Dr Chay Brown was embraced by Shirleen Campbell from the Tangentyere Women's Family Safety Group as she spoke at the vigil. (ABC News: Xavier Martin)
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