This is the infamous case of Azaria Chamberlain, who passed away on 17 August, 1980. Azaria was an infant who was tragically killed by a dingo on the night of a family camping trip to Uluru. Her parents, Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, reported that she had been taken from their tent by a dingo, but sadly her body was never found.
The first inquest (investigation held to find out the cause of a certain death) supported the parents' claim; this was broadcasted live on television - a first for Australia. Then, there was a second inquest which proved Lindy Chamberlain guilty of filicide on 29 October, 1982. To atone for her deeds, Lindy was sentenced to life imprisonment and the father was convicted, but as an accessory after the fact. (To assist …show more content…
The evidence suggested that she had slit Azaria's throat in the front seat of the Chamberlain car, hiding the baby's body in a large camera case. Then Lindy acted as if she didn’t know where her baby went, leading to a huge search. It was during this time that while other people from the campsite were searching for Azaria, she disposed of the body.
There was evidence supporting this such as the clothing of the infant and the stains on the front seat of the Chamberlains' car. Lindy Chamberlain was questioned and claimed that Azaria was wearing a matinee jacket over the jumpsuit, but the jacket was not found with the garments. In fact, many of her statements did not match up with the evidence. In her defence, eyewitness evidence retold stories of dingoes being seen in the area. Many claimed to believe the Chamberlains' story; one even reported having heard a baby's cry.
The Chamberlains made several unsuccessful appeals, including the final High Court appeal. However, after spending about three years in prison, Lindy was released when a piece of Azaria's clothing - the matinee jacket - was found near a dingo lair. A third and fourth inquest was opened. The evidence was found by a chance discovery; in 1986 police were searching near Uluru for another case and ended up at the dingo lairs where they discovered a small item of clothing. This was identified as the missing piece of evidence from the Chamberlain
The first inquest (investigation held to find out the cause of a certain death) supported the parents' claim; this was broadcasted live on television - a first for Australia. Then, there was a second inquest which proved Lindy Chamberlain guilty of filicide on 29 October, 1982. To atone for her deeds, Lindy was sentenced to life imprisonment and the father was convicted, but as an accessory after the fact. (To assist …show more content…
The evidence suggested that she had slit Azaria's throat in the front seat of the Chamberlain car, hiding the baby's body in a large camera case. Then Lindy acted as if she didn’t know where her baby went, leading to a huge search. It was during this time that while other people from the campsite were searching for Azaria, she disposed of the body.
There was evidence supporting this such as the clothing of the infant and the stains on the front seat of the Chamberlains' car. Lindy Chamberlain was questioned and claimed that Azaria was wearing a matinee jacket over the jumpsuit, but the jacket was not found with the garments. In fact, many of her statements did not match up with the evidence. In her defence, eyewitness evidence retold stories of dingoes being seen in the area. Many claimed to believe the Chamberlains' story; one even reported having heard a baby's cry.
The Chamberlains made several unsuccessful appeals, including the final High Court appeal. However, after spending about three years in prison, Lindy was released when a piece of Azaria's clothing - the matinee jacket - was found near a dingo lair. A third and fourth inquest was opened. The evidence was found by a chance discovery; in 1986 police were searching near Uluru for another case and ended up at the dingo lairs where they discovered a small item of clothing. This was identified as the missing piece of evidence from the Chamberlain