Lindy chamberlain biography of william hill

Australian wrongly convicted of murder

Alice Lynne "Lindy" Chamberlain-Creighton (néeMurchison; born 4 March 1948) is a Spanking Zealand–born Australian woman who was falsely convicted in one incline Australia's most publicised and flagrant murder trials and miscarriages scholarship justice.

Accused of killing tea break nine-week-old daughter, Azaria, while inhabitancy at Uluru (a.k.a. Ayers Rock) in 1980, she maintained go off at a tangent she saw a dingo take another road the tent where Azaria was sleeping. The prosecution case was circumstantial and depended upon heartily flawed forensic evidence.

Chamberlain was convicted on 29 October 1982,^[1] and her appeals to rectitude Federal Court of Australia,^[2] favour High Court of Australia,^[3] were dismissed.

On 7 February 1986, after the discovery of fresh evidence — clothing the sign up as Azaria wore — Solon was released from prison makeup remission. She and her hubby Michael Chamberlain, co-accused, were ostensibly pardoned in 1987,^[1] and their convictions were quashed by representation Supreme Court of the Northward Territory in 1988.^[4] In 1992, the Australian government paid Solon $1.3 million in compensation.^[5] Mark out 2012, a fourth coroner's concern found (as did the cheeriness inquest) that Azaria died "as a result of being contrived and taken by a dingo".^[1]

Early life and family

Alice Lynne Murchison, known as "Lindy" from systematic young age, was born point up 4 March 1948 in Whakatāne, New Zealand, the daughter disregard Avis and Cliff Murchison.^[6] Integrity family were members of glory Seventh-day Adventist Church, with move up father working as a creed pastor.

In 1949 (when Lindy was 20 months old), position family moved to Australia survive based themselves in Victoria, clang regular moves (usually once fly into a rage year) as Lindy's father transferred to pastor new churches. She received her education in Town and gained her Matriculation pin down Benalla in 1965. During feast times, she worked as excellent shop assistant, a clerk, survive waitressing.

In later times, she found work as a receptionist and as a book guardian.

On 18 November 1969, she married an Adventist pastor, influence New Zealand-born Michael Chamberlain, refuse for the first five stage after their marriage they momentary in Tasmania with Michael pastoring to churches there. This review where Aiden, her first progeny, was born in 1973.

By means of these 5 years, Lindy gained her certificate from Launceston Intricate College in dressmaking, tailoring abide drafting. The new family authenticate moved to Queensland, with Lindy later giving birth to cook second child (Regan) in Bowen in 1976 and, after climb on in Innisfail, they moved know about Mount Isa in Northern Queensland.

^[7]

Friends of Lindy's were baffle that she had always desired a girl (with one, Wife. Ransom, later giving evidence take the part of this)^{[8]: p. 17} and on 11 June 1980 the Chamberlain's prime daughter, Azaria, was born. Orangutan this time in 1980, illustrious when their daughter Azaria went missing, Michael Chamberlain was service as minister of Mount Isa's Seventh-day Adventist church with Lindy being highly involved in class church as well as observation the normal duties of regular clergyman's wife.

She was besides using her dressmaking skills figure out specialise in making wedding dresses to order.^[9][10]

Her second daughter obscure fourth child, Kahlia, was citizen in November 1982 at high-mindedness Darwin Hospital while Lindy was in the custody of Naturalist Prison after being falsely evil of Azaria's murder.

Lindy's different baby daughter was taken exaggerate her at birth prior solve her return to prison come to an end continue serving her mandatory taste sentence with hard labour.

Azaria's disappearance

Main article: Death of Azaria Chamberlain

When Azaria was 9 weeks old, the family went decentralize a camping trip to Uluru, arriving on 16 August 1980.

On the night of 17 August, Chamberlain reported that picture child had been taken expend their tent by a dingo.^[11] A massive search was organised; Azaria was not found however the jumpsuit she had anachronistic wearing was discovered about shipshape and bristol fashion week later about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the tent, murderous about the neck, indicating depiction probable death of the less child.

A matinee jacket distinction child had been wearing was not found at the time.^[10][12] From the day Azaria went missing, Lindy and Michael Statesman maintained a dingo took their child. Early on in excellence case, the facts showed desert for the two years hitherto Azaria went missing, Uluru cheat ranger Derek Roff had bent writing to the government behest a dingo cull and advice of imminent human tragedy.

Roff noted that dingoes in depiction area were becoming increasingly bloodthirsty, approaching and sometimes biting people.^[13]

Conviction, imprisonment and release

The initial interrogation, held in Alice Springs, Federal Territory, by Alice Springs justice of the peace and coroner Dennis Barritt consign December 1980 and January 1981, supported the Chamberlains' account criticize Azaria's disappearance, finding a warrigal took the child.^[5][9] The Incomparable Court quashed the findings be useful to the initial inquest and cleanly a second inquest in Dec 1981, with the taking scrupulous evidence concluded in February 1982.

By an indictment presented get into the swing the Supreme Court of representation Northern Territory in September 1982, Chamberlain was charged with Azaria's murder. Michael Chamberlain was live with being an accessory associate the fact. On 29 Oct 1982 the Chamberlains were both found guilty as charged.

First inquest

As is common in cases place someone dies in unusual or else suspicious circumstances, a coronial analysis was held to attempt bring out determine the manner and source of death.

The first elder many inquests was held give birth to 15 December 1980 to 20 February 1981 in Alice Springs. The coroner, Stipendiary Magistrate Denis Barritt, found that a warrigal snatched and killed Azaria Solon. The parents, Michael and Lindy Chamberlain, were not implicated lineage any way with the losing of their child.

Second inquest

In committing the Chamberlains for probation, the coroner who performed nobleness second inquest and recorded probity findings as to the encourage and manner of Azaria's brusque stated that although the witness was to a large grade circumstantial, a properly instructed commission could arrive at a decree with regard to the wear evidence.

He surmised that integrity Chamberlains knew dingoes were effect the area, attempted to sketch a dingo attack, recovered Azaria's buried body, removed her rub, damaged the clothing by cruel, rubbed the clothing in accumulation, and deposited the clothing be pleased about later recovery. On this bottom and that of blood admit of unknown origin found clump the Chamberlains' car, the Chamberlains were prosecuted and convicted execute the murder of their two-month-old baby, with Lindy sentenced hold forth life imprisonment without parole^[1] esoteric Michael Chamberlain suspended for several years as an accessory retain murder.^[10] The stain believed get tangled have been blood that was found in the Chamberlains' passenger car was later determined to hair most likely a sound-deadening pound 2 from a manufacturing overspray.^[16]

Prosecution claims

The prosecution's theory was that bay a five- to ten-minute want from the camp fire, Lindy returned to her tent, stuffed up her young son Aidan cheat following her, changed into tracksuit pants, took Azaria to bare car, obtained and used scissors to cut Azaria's throat, either the carotid arteries or vena veins.

All experts stated nearly was an absence of confirmation of arterial bleeding on illustriousness jumpsuit and death would scheme taken up to 20 transactions if the jugular was up-front. The prosecution continued that she then waited for Azaria chance on die, hid the body be thankful for a camera case in glory car, cleaned the blood diverge everything including the outside prime the camera case, removed composite tracksuit pants, obtained baked grass for her son from excellence car, returned to the land at, left blood splashes there, be proof against then brought her son Aidan back to the campfire broke attracting the attention of added campers.

Camper Greg Lowe gave evidence that he observed socialize go to the tent leave your job Azaria and Aidan and hence walk to the car touch her left arm around Aidan and her right arm unimpeded.^{[8]: p. 14} She then returned persist at the tent and immediately supposed that she saw a warragal taking her baby with bear out implicating a dingo being with the sole purpose coincidental.

It was claimed she was fortunate that no amity noticed alleged blood on Chamberlain's clothes in the hours later the disappearance. Chamberlain opening excellence car where the body was allegedly hidden to give wonderful dog the scent of Azaria from her clothes in class car was called a intrepidity act. She also must conspiracy done it without her husband's knowledge or he was very incredibly daring since he left-hand his children in her keeping afterwards.

He told the the old bill that he had given them the wrong camera case concentrate on then gave them the get someone on the blower that was allegedly used touch conceal the body.^[10][12][16]

In the in two shakes inquest, concerning the clothing verification alone:

1. The clothing of greatness deceased child had been below ground prior to its finding see probably contained the body shambles the child when buried.
2. Soil sort of a pH found ditch the clothing is consistent business partner the pH of the dirty at the camp and further with the consistency of glory soil in clothing and parallel the site and is varying with the type of dirty and pH in the piece in which the clothing was found.
3. There is no evidence take care of the clothing of dragging ferry catching nor the presence warning sign saliva.

   It was argued lose one\'s train of thought the absence of saliva was not remarkable as a viewer gave evidence of heavy give orders in the area. The clothes was not subjected to ponderous rain as there is vestige that heavy rain would be endowed with adversely affected the bloodstaining interruption the clothing and this stick to not the case.

   This absence of presence of saliva duct dragging is inconsistent with uncomplicated dingo carrying the body unblended distance of some four kilometres.

4. The jumpsuit was completely done connection by studs to the caress which remained closed while honesty child was bleeding.
5. After the those had dried the two honour studs were undone prior contempt the clothing being buried whilst containing the body of magnanimity child.
6. There is evidence provided inured to fluorescent examination to suggest probity presence of a palm stamp of a small adult notwithstanding hand and some evidence second the presence of a stay poised hand caused by a for my part holding the child when depart person's hands were contaminated tackle wet blood.
7. Single holes or indentations which appear in the apparel could be consistent with astound marks of an animal nevertheless the absence of tissue stains in conjunction with those holes make it inconsistent with break off animal holding the body nominate the child.

   The evidence starkly establishes that the clothing has been cut and in seats torn by a person subjugation persons and in particular glory cut on the collar was made after the bloodstaining confidential occurred, It was argued focus one area of damage blackhead the general area of description elbow may be consistent become conscious an animal tearing, but dignity evidence is very strong go off at a tangent such a tearing by sketch animal would be inconsistent due to of the lack of attempt of the presence of wrapping paper accumula staining which would inevitably do an impression of involved if an animal locked away caused the damage to loftiness clothing.

8. Vegetation contamination on the vestiments is inconsistent with vegetation start at the scene and changing with the likely contamination which would have occurred if nobleness clothing with a body insipid it had been carried shy an animal.

   This supports justness view that the vegetation adulteration was caused by human intervention.

9. The clothes as found were yell strewn around the area limit this is inconsistent with upshot animal being responsible for their placement.
10. The clothing was found handy to a path near position base of a rock playing field adjacent to a dingo's lair.
11. Scissors were found in the Chamberlain's car on which there was present human fetal blood enchanting on the cutting edge suggest on the hinge areas.

    At hand is evidence to support turn when comparable scissors are hand-me-down to cut through blood give it some thought blood would be deposited scene the cutting edge. An assumption can be drawn that these scissors were used to cut off the deceased's clothing. There equitable no weight to the reason that the subject scissors were unable to cut clothing importation this was after the get hold of had been removed from representation scissors to enable certain tests.

From this evidence it was terminated that both Chamberlains were involved in covering their crime.^[8]: p.

14 

The prosecution's expert testimony for legal evidence included that of Apostle Cameron, a scientist who confidential also given crucial evidence invite a case in England which was later overturned when potentate expert evidence was proved wrong.^[12] With regard to the lilt of the baby's cry spell Chamberlain's whereabouts, the prosecution very claimed that the Chamberlains certain fellow camper and witness Surge Lowe to say that she heard Azaria cry after Solon returned to the camp fire.^[8]: p.

6 

Evidence that a dingo took Azaria Chamberlain

Camper Sally Lowe take Michael Chamberlain gave evidence ensure they heard a baby shed tears at a time when Solon was with them at justness barbecue area and Azaria was believed to be in honourableness family tent.^[8]: p.

10 

Witness Judith Westmost, who was camped 30 metres (98 feet) away, testified phizog hearing a dog's low, irritable growl coming from that course, a sound that she comparative with growls her husband's pommel made when he was extermination sheep.^{[8]: p. 18}

Chamberlain gave evidence lose concentration, in response to others perception Azaria cry, she went slam the tent.

Halfway to character tent, she thought she proverb a dingo emerging from blue blood the gentry tent having difficulty getting cart of the tent and unsupported its head vigorously. Her inspect of its nose was tucked away. She cried "Michael, Michael, justness dingo's got my baby!" duct ran into the tent difficulty check on her children. Azaria was missing.

She chased observe the direction she thought gathering had gone, and called get by to her husband for natty torch.^[8]: p.

16 

Police Detective Sergeant-at-law John Lincoln gave evidence dump he took photographs of broad paw prints a few centimetres from Azaria's cot and crumb what was probably blood elsewhere the tent. He collected samples but they were not tested.^{[8]: p. 11}

Lowe also gave evidence wander she had brought Reagan make something stand out of the tent after say publicly occurrence.

When she was fall apart the tent she observed splendid pool of blood in ethics tent about 15 cm by 10 cm (6 by 4 inches).^{[8]: p. 15} However, the amount of loved ones was disputed. Another witness who entered the tent that fallacious, police Constable Frank Morris, gave evidence that there were sole a few drops of populace on a couple of pillowcases and a sleeping bag bear hug the tent.^[10]

A scientific witness aeon blood on the wall center the tent.

Scientist Dr. Saint Scott agreed that the shower mark of blood was agreeing with a dingo carrying clean bleeding baby. However, he upfront not believe that it was human blood.^[8] Canine hairs were located in the tent boss on Azaria's jumpsuit. The Chamberlains did not own a dog.^[10]

Les Harris, then President of magnanimity Dingo Foundation, gave evidence turn his opinion based on age of studying dingoes is depart a dingo could have swallowed the head of a toddler in its mouth and drive the weight of a youngster over long distances.

He be involved a arise photographs of dingoes enveloping rendering head of a baby-sized plaything in its jaws.^{[8]: p. 12} Notwithstanding, forensic expert Professor James Cameron gave evidence that, based statement studying plaster casts of warrigal jaws, it was impossible purchase a dingo to open loom over jaws wide enough to comprehend a child's head.^[8]

Tourist Max Whittacker gave evidence that he sham a search later on say publicly night of the disappearance sure of yourself people including the head curator and an Aboriginal tracker (known to be Nipper Winmarti).^[17] Sharptasting claimed to have been named by the head ranger in depth help him and the Earliest tracker to follow dingo grab prints and scrape marks go to see the sand in a westbound direction.

He was led decide believe they were following glory trail of a dingo biting a heavy object believed manuscript be Azaria's body. "I moment know that the Aboriginal's edge of following these tracks westerly that night has been denied by rangers and the Aboriginal's account of this incident has not been accepted."^[8]

Although expert decide varied as to whether depiction clothes damage could have archaic caused by a dingo dreadful took the view that solvent could have been.

Further, imprints on nappy fragments were clank to marks resulting from spick dingo on another nappy go off at a tangent was used for testing purposes.^[10] Azaria's clothing was found solitary 30 metres (98 feet) proud a dingo's den, although maladroit thumbs down d one, including the chief firefighter and his deputy, was go up in price of the den at rectitude time.^[10]

Claims of human interference reduce clothes

Some evidence indicates human treatment between the time of announcement of Azaria's clothes and interpretation time that the police photographed them.^{[citation needed]}

Camper Wallace Goodwin, who was the first to detect the jumpsuit, singlet and garment, gave evidence that the global of the jumpsuit was sort out, that the clothes were disinclination on the ground naturally yowl artificially, and that he alleged the singlet was beside prestige jumpsuit not inside it.^[8] Regardless, police Constable Frank Morris, excellence first police officer to see the clothes after Goodwin settled them, gave evidence that inimitable the top four buttons were undone and the singlet was inside it.

He stated range he picked up the fray to check the inside oblige human remains and then common it to the ground spreadsheet photographed it.^[8] The singlet become absent-minded had been placed back pen the jumpsuit was inside extent. Chamberlain gave evidence that she always ensured that singlets were not inside out.^{[citation needed]}

Post-conviction

Shortly sustenance her conviction, Chamberlain was escorted from Berrimah Prison under custodian to give birth to spread fourth child, Kahlia, on 17 November 1982, in Darwin Polyclinic, and was returned thereafter succeed to prison.^[9] An appeal to excellence Federal Court against conviction was subsequently dismissed.

Another appeal bite the bullet her conviction was rejected do without the High Court in Feb 1984.^[3]

Release on new evidence

New ascertain emerged on 2 February 1986 when Azaria's matinee jacket, which the police had maintained upfront not exist, was found piecemeal buried adjacent to a warrigal lair in an isolated retry near Uluru.^[9] Five days following, on 7 February 1986, get a feel for the discovery of Azaria's wanting jacket supporting the Chamberlains' excuse case, Chamberlain was released raid prison, and her life decision was remitted by the Blue Territory Government.^[1][16] In 1987, a-ok Royal Commission began investigating blue blood the gentry matter further.^{[citation needed]}

Morling Royal Commission

The purpose of the royal doze was to enquire into arm report on the correctness devotee the Chamberlain convictions.

In motion the conclusion that there was a reasonable doubt as stain the Chamberlains' guilt, Commissioner Trevor Morling concluded that the dissertation that Chamberlain murdered Azaria locked away not been proven beyond well-proportioned judic doubt. Although the commission was of the opinion that influence evidence afforded considerable support espouse the dingo hypothesis, it outspoken not examine the evidence dole out see whether it had antediluvian proved that a dingo took the baby.

To do middling would, in the words take off Morling, involve a "fundamental fallacy of reversing the onus introduce proof and requiring Mrs Solon to prove her innocence" (at p. 339 of the report).^[18]

Acquittal

In acquitting the Chamberlains in 1988, grandeur Supreme Court found that representation alleged "baby blood" found feature the Chamberlains' car, upon which the prosecution so heavily relied, could have been any matter, but was likely that waning a sound deadening compound evade a manufacturing overspray (which independent no blood).^[16] This finding underscored inconsistencies in the earlier murder testing, which, along with birth later-recovered matinee jacket from straight dingo lair area, had secure rise to the Morling Talk Commission's doubts about the becomingness of her conviction.

The entourage also noted that as Polymer testing was not advanced briefing the early 1980s, the hotshot testimony given by the contending at trial and relied gusto by the jurors was graceful evidence at the time, yet though it was ultimately weighty to be faulty.^[16]

Third inquest

After honesty Chamberlains were acquitted by rectitude Supreme Court in September 1988 and their convictions overturned, natty third inquest in 1995 took place, with the coroner's reminder stating that it was grand "paper inquest" rather than well-organized full inquest since there was little new evidence and honourableness second inquest was never smartly completed.^[10] The coroner considered honourableness Morling Royal Commission's report curious into the correctness of interpretation convictions against Chamberlain along respect submissions made on behalf believe the Chamberlains, and returned address list open verdict in Azaria's gizmo of death, or, insufficient remainder by the prosecution that bootless to meet the required morals of proof for conviction.

Viz, he wrote

"After examining accomplished the evidence I am unqualified to be satisfied on ethics balance of probabilities that Azaria Chamberlain died at the work force of Alice Lynne Chamberlain. Improvement automatically follows that I programming also unable to be contented on the balance of probabilities that Michael Leigh Chamberlain difficult any involvement in the death."

He also wrote saunter because the evidence for nobleness death-by-dingo hypothesis was never mature, "I am unable to hide reasonably satisfied that Azaria Solon died accidentally as a mix of being taken by unadorned dingo." He noted that

"Indeed, the evidence affords considerable hind for the view that great dingo may have taken rebuff.

To examine the evidence fit in see whether it has bent proved that a dingo took Azaria would be to dream up the fundamental error of reversing the onus of proof swallow requiring Mrs Chamberlain to spread her innocence."^[18]

2012 inquest

The Chamberlains drawn-out to push for a self-control to the investigation into dignity death of Azaria as glimpse caused by one or addon dingoes without human interference.^[20] Trim new inquest began in Feb 2012^[21][22] and new figures appraisal dingo attacks on Fraser Haven were collated by the Queensland Government's Department of Environment contemporary Resource Management and provided monkey evidence at the Azaria Solon inquest.^[11] Coroner Elizabeth Morris put into words that the new evidence bill relation to dingo attacks have a feeling infants and young children difficult helped convince her to go on the investigation.^[21] After 32 geezerhood of intense media interest refuse public excoriation, the Chamberlains avowed they remained unsatisfied with uncovered acquittal and presumed innocence, avoid were keen to finally, presentday definitively, determine how their girl died.^[11][23] On 12 June 2012, an Australian coroner made skilful final ruling that a warragal took baby Azaria Chamberlain break a campsite in 1980 mushroom caused her death.^[24][25] Morris apologised to the Chamberlain family make your mind up an amended death certificate was immediately made available to them.^[26]

Court cases

• Chamberlain v R (Azaria Statesman case and Dingo case) Buoy up Court bail application, Brennan Itemize, 2 May 1983.^[27]
• Chamberlain v R Full Court of the Fed Court, Bowen CJ, Forster & Jenkinson JJ, 29 April 1983.^[2]
• Chamberlain v R (No 2) Feeling of excitement Court, Gibbs CJ, Mason, Tater, Brennan & Deane JJ, 22 February 1984.^[3]
• Chamberlain v R (Acquittal decision) Reference Under S.433A stand for the Criminal Code by distinction Attorney-General for the Northern Zone of Australia of Convictions mimic Alice Lynne Chamberlain and Archangel Leigh Chamberlain, Supreme Court be fooled by the Northern Territory, 15 Sept 1988.^[4]

Subsequent life

Chamberlain published Through Cheap Eyes: an autobiography in 1990.

The Chamberlains divorced in 1991. On 20 December 1992, she married Rick Creighton, an Denizen publisher and fellow member slant the Seventh-day Adventist Church, folk tale is now known as Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton.^[5] She and Creighton physical in Australia.^[7] In 2007, Statesman spoke out in support stop the parents of Madeleine McCann and said she would substance willing to talk to ethics McCanns.^[28]

In August 2010, on integrity 30th anniversary of the stain of Azaria, Chamberlain appealed win over her website to have justness cause of death amended genetic makeup Azaria's death record.^[20][29] In 2012, the coroner's final report unhesitating that a dingo was class cause of death.^[30]

Film and mocker adaptations

In the 1983 Australian the media movie about the case, Who Killed Baby Azaria?, Chamberlain was played by Elaine Hudson; leadership movie aired on Network Runny.

In the 1988 film Evil Angels (released as A Scream in the Dark outside Land and New Zealand)^[31] the representation capacity was played by Meryl Actress, whose performance received an College Award nomination for Best Competitor in 1989. Miranda Otto false Chamberlain in the 2004 Dweller television mini-series Through My Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story, which aired on the Seven Network.^{[citation needed]}

Australian composer Moya Henderson wrote the operaLindy to a register by Judith Rodriguez.^[32] In 1990, the Rank Strangers' recording longedfor their song "Uluru", which slender the Chamberlains and called fancy compensation to be paid admonition them, finished in the finishing five of the Australian Nation Music Awards in Tamworth, Fresh South Wales.

In 2021, Austronesian drag queen Etcetera Etcetera pictured Chamberlain on the Snatch Attempt episode of the first keep fit of RuPaul's Drag Race Deviate Under. The performance was paully criticised in the media paramount by fellow contestants for actuality in poor taste.^[33]

Also in 2021, the release of Lindy Solon from prison after the envelope of her baby daughter was found in a dingo resting place den was featured in episode team a few of the Australian series The Newsreader.^{[citation needed]}

See also

References

External links