Australian female serial killer jailed over 4 infant deaths pardoned after 20 years
Katheleen Folbigg, Australia's worst female serial killer, was released after spending 20 years behind bars. She was convicted in 2003 of murdering three of her children and manslaughter of the fourth.
PremiumKatheleen Folbigg, Australia's worst female serial killer who was jailed for murdering her four young children, was released on Monday after spending 20 years behind bars. She was convicted in 2003 of murdering three of her children and the manslaughter of the fourth.
Prosecutors argued she suffocated the children, who died between the ages of nine weeks and three years, but Folbigg has steadfastly maintained each death was due to natural causes, according to a report published by AFP.
Dozens of scientists from Australia and abroad signed a petition calling for Folbigg's release in 2021, saying that new forensic evidence suggested the unexplained deaths were linked to rare genetic mutations or congenital abnormalities. The four children died between 1989 and 1999.
Speaking to media persons, New South Wales Attorney-General Michael Daley said Folbigg had been pardoned following an inquiry, launched in May 2022, that established "reasonable doubt" surrounding the convictions, AFP reported.
“This has been a terrible ordeal for everyone concerned, and I hope that our actions today put some closure on this 20-year matter," Daley said.
Supporter Sue Higginson, a Greens politician said, "We've received confirmation that Ms Folbigg has walked free this morning and that she is in the sunlight, she's now free from prison," said supporter Sue Higginson. It is a massive relief for all of those who have stood by Ms Folbigg."
Folbigg, 55, was released on Monday morning from a prison in Grafton, in the north of New South Wales state, where she had been serving a sentence of at least 25 years.
Folbigg's friend Peter Yates said he was "absolutely delighted".
"What we're particularly pleased about is that he's given Kathleen a full pardon. That means that she's free to live her life as a normal citizen and that makes a big difference to her," he told national broadcaster ABC, as per AFP reports.
While the pardon lifts Folbigg's prison sentence, Yates noted she would need to apply separately through the court system to have the convictions overturned, a process that could take "two or three years".
The Australian Academy of Science, which helped to spark the inquiry, said it was "relieved" to see justice for Folbigg.
(With AFP inputs)
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