A woman jailed for 20 years for the deaths of her four children, and pardoned in June, had her conviction overturned by the state of New South Wales on Thursday, with her lawyer saying she plans to seek “substantial” compensation.
Kathleen Folbigg was convicted in 2003 of murdering her three children, and manslaughter in the death of her fourth.
Folbigg maintained his innocence and said the child had died of natural causes for a decade, from 1989 to 1999.
In 2019, a preliminary investigation into the case confirmed Folbigg’s guilt. But in 2022, a second inquiry led by a former chief justice found new evidence showing two of the children had genetic mutations that may have caused their deaths.
Folbigg was released from prison in June this year after being pardoned.
“I am grateful that updated science and genetics have given me answers to how my children died,” an emotional Folbigg told reporters outside the criminal appeals court in Sydney.
Kathleen Folbigg, center, walks with her lawyer Rhanee Rego, right, into the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal in Sydney, on Dec. 14, 2023. DAN HIMBRECHTS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Folbigg’s second son, Patrick, smiles for the camera before his death at age eight moon. Supreme Court of New South Wales Laura Folbiggg, died aged 18 months. His death sparked a police investigation into his mother. Supreme Court of New South Wales
“However, even in 1999, we had a legal answer to prove my innocence. They are ignored. And fired,” he said. “The system would rather blame me than accept that sometimes, children can and do die suddenly, unexpectedly, and heartbreakingly.”
Folbigg’s lawyer, Rhanee Rego, said his legal team was preparing a claim for “substantial” compensation for his wrongful imprisonment.
“I’m not ready to put the figure, but it will be bigger than any big payment that has been made before,” he said.
Folbigg appeared via video link during the sentencing hearing in Sydney on May 1, 2019. AP Folbigg was convicted in 2003 of murdering three of his children, and manslaughter in the death of his fourth. Fairfax Media via Getty Images
The case, which relied mostly on circumstantial evidence, caused controversy among scientists and statisticians, some of whom were part of the campaign to secure Folbigg’s release.
“Despite new scientific evidence (in 2019) … basic scientific principles have not been adhered to since the time of the trial,” said Anna-Maria Arabia, chief executive of the Australian Academy of Sciences. “Make no mistake … without legal reform, this type of miscarriage of justice will continue.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
