Global InformationKathleen Folbigg information
Kathleen Folbigg | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kathleen Megan Donovan 14 June 1967 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Known for | Wrongly accused of murdering her own children |
| Children | 4 |
Kathleen Megan Folbigg (née Donovan; born 14 June 1967) is an Australian woman who was wrongfully convicted in 2003 of murdering her four infant children.[1] She was pardoned in 2023 after 20 years in jail following a long campaign for justice by her supporters,[2] and had her convictions overturned on appeal a few months later.[3][4]
No direct evidence of the alleged crimes was ever found, but in the personal diary discovered by her husband and dutifully handed over to the police, several entries seemed to suggest she might have harmed, and indeed murdered, her children.[1] She was arrested in 2001 and convicted in 2003, sentenced to 40 years with a non-parole period of 30 years.[5] Folbigg maintained her innocence, however, claiming the four children had died from natural causes.
Scientific and medical research suggesting the daughters might indeed have died of natural causes was rejected by a judicial inquiry in 2019. Subsequent research published in 2020 led ninety eminent Australian scientists and medical professionals, in March 2021, to petition the NSW Governor to pardon Folbigg. The petition succinctly demonstrated that all four deaths could be explained as the effects of very rare genetic factors. On 5 June 2023, Folbigg was unconditionally pardoned by NSW Governor Margaret Beazley and was released from prison.[6][7][8]
- ^ a b Szego, Julie; Cauchi, Stephen (30 August 2003). "Killing them softly". The Age. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
- ^ "Kathleen Folbigg pardoned after 20 years in jail, as ex-husband maintains her guilt". ABC News. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Kathleen Folbigg has convictions for killing her four children overturned". ABC News. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "Top court takes historic step of quashing Kathleen Folbigg's convictions". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ Inside serial baby killer Kathleen Folbigg's violent and tragic life
- ^ "Statement from the Australian Academy of Science - Kathleen Folbigg". Australian Academy of Science. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ McDermott, Quentin (19 August 2020). "Kathleen Folbigg conviction questioned after scientists discover genetic mutation which 'likely' killed two children". ABC. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ Brohus, Malene; Arsov, Todor; Wallace, David A.; Jensen, Helene Halkjær; Nyegaard, Mette; Crotti, Lia; Adamski, Marcin; Zhang, Yafei; Field, Matt A.; Athanasopoulos, Vicki; Baró, Isabelle (8 March 2021). "Infanticide vs. inherited cardiac arrhythmias". EP Europace. 23 (3): 441–450. doi:10.1093/europace/euaa272. hdl:11343/272103. ISSN 1099-5129. PMC 7947592. PMID 33200177.