An Australian mother who was convicted of killing her children celebrated a “victory for science” on Tuesday after a breakthrough in research helped secure her release from prison after 20 years.
Kathleen Folbigg was imprisoned in 2003 after she was found guilty of killing her four infant children. The children had died separately without explanation between 1989 and 1999, but there was a lack of forensic evidence linking her to the deaths. Folbigg maintained her innocence throughout her two decades in prison.
However, in recent years, scientific advancements have revealed genetic mutations that helped explain why some of the children died. This paved the way for Folbigg’s release from prison on Monday.
After being released, Folbigg said, “I’m extremely humbled and extremely grateful for being pardoned and released from prison. Today is a victory for science and especially truth.” In her first public statement, she also spoke of how she would grieve for her children forever, and that she missed and loved them dearly.
Although she has now been granted her freedom, Folbigg must still go through a separate legal process to have her convictions officially overturned. Her lawyer, Rhanee Rego, criticized the Australian court system for having “failed her at every step” and stated that they would fight to clear her name.
‘Bamboozled’
The Australian Academy of Science, which played a crucial role in the Folbigg inquiry, described the convictions as “Australia’s greatest miscarriage of justice”. Chief Executive Anna-Maria Arabia called attention to the lack of a mechanism for the justice system to consider new information, especially scientific information.
Folbigg was released on Monday from a prison in Grafton, in the north of New South Wales state, where she had been serving a minimum sentence of 25 years. Long-time friend Tracy Chapman said Folbigg was still adjusting to modern technology, such as smartphones and on-demand television.
“She slept for the first time in a real bed, had a cup of tea in a real crockery cup, real spoons to stir with,” Chapman said. “That sounds basic to you all, but she’s grateful. The phones have bamboozled her a bit. Even the television she was going, ‘Oh my god, it’s got so many capabilities’.”
© 2023 AFP
Citation: Australian mother thanks ‘science’ for child murder pardon (2023, June 6) retrieved 6 June 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-06-australian-mother-science-child-pardon.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessory action within 24 hours.
Jessica Irvine is a tech enthusiast specializing in gadgets. From smart home devices to cutting-edge electronics, Jessica explores the world of consumer tech, offering readers comprehensive reviews, hands-on experiences, and expert insights into the coolest and most innovative gadgets on the market.
