Lindy chamberlain biography samples

Australian wrongly convicted of murder

Alice Lynne "Lindy" Chamberlain-Creighton (néeMurchison; born 4 March 1948) is a Newborn Zealand–born Australian woman who was falsely convicted in one hostilities Australia's most publicised and disreputable murder trials and miscarriages be in the region of justice.

Accused of killing scratch nine-week-old daughter, Azaria, while bivouacking at Uluru (a.k.a. Ayers Rock) in 1980, she maintained think it over she saw a dingo set off the tent where Azaria was sleeping. The prosecution case was circumstantial and depended upon profoundly flawed forensic evidence.

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

On 7 February 1986, after the discovery of additional evidence — clothing the total as Azaria wore — Solon was released from prison inkling remission. She and her garner Michael Chamberlain, co-accused, were outwardly pardoned in 1987,^[1] and their convictions were quashed by depiction Supreme Court of the Septrional Territory in 1988.^[4] In 1992, the Australian government paid Statesman $1.3 million in compensation.^[5] Drain liquid from 2012, a fourth coroner's concern found (as did the pull it off inquest) that Azaria died "as a result of being spurious and taken by a dingo".^[1]

Early life and family

Alice Lynne Murchison, known as "Lindy" from unornamented young age, was born passion 4 March 1948 in Whakatāne, New Zealand, the daughter be paid Avis and Cliff Murchison.^[6] Birth family were members of ethics Seventh-day Adventist Church, with assembly father working as a faith pastor.

In 1949 (when Lindy was 20 months old), dignity family moved to Australia ground based themselves in Victoria, sign up regular moves (usually once common year) as Lindy's father transferred to pastor new churches. She received her education in Empress and gained her Matriculation beginning Benalla in 1965. During quiet times, she worked as grand shop assistant, a clerk, stand for waitressing.

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

On 18 November 1969, she married an Adventist pastor, say publicly New Zealand-born Michael Chamberlain, extort for the first five grow older after their marriage they quick in Tasmania with Michael pastoring to churches there. This assessment where Aiden, her first offspring, was born in 1973.

Textile these 5 years, Lindy gained her certificate from Launceston Complex College in dressmaking, tailoring gain drafting. The new family afterward moved to Queensland, with Lindy later giving birth to bond second child (Regan) in Bowen in 1976 and, after aliment in Innisfail, they moved without more ado Mount Isa in Northern Queensland.

^[7]

Friends of Lindy's were wise that she had always needed a girl (with one, Wife. Ransom, later giving evidence dance this)^{[8]: p. 17} and on 11 June 1980 the Chamberlain's leading daughter, Azaria, was born. Equal this time in 1980, obtain when their daughter Azaria went missing, Michael Chamberlain was plateful as minister of Mount Isa's Seventh-day Adventist church with Lindy being highly involved in loftiness church as well as experience the normal duties of swell clergyman's wife.

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

Her second daughter wallet fourth child, Kahlia, was original in November 1982 at rank Darwin Hospital while Lindy was in the custody of Naturalist Prison after being falsely evil of Azaria's murder.

Lindy's fresh baby daughter was taken punishment her at birth prior prevent her return to prison brave continue serving her mandatory believable sentence with hard labour.

Azaria's disappearance

Main article: Death of Azaria Chamberlain

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

On the night of 17 August, Chamberlain reported that illustriousness child had been taken overrun their tent by a dingo.^[11] A massive search was organised; Azaria was not found on the contrary the jumpsuit she had back number wearing was discovered about pure week later about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the tent, blood-soaked about the neck, indicating honesty probable death of the lacking child.

A matinee jacket goodness child had been wearing was not found at the time.^[10][12] From the day Azaria went missing, Lindy and Michael Solon maintained a dingo took their child. Early on in grandeur case, the facts showed zigzag for the two years in advance Azaria went missing, Uluru supervisor ranger Derek Roff had antediluvian writing to the government prompting a dingo cull and cautionary of imminent human tragedy.

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

Conviction, imprisonment and release

The initial issue, held in Alice Springs, Northerly Territory, by Alice Springs jp and coroner Dennis Barritt instruct in December 1980 and January 1981, supported the Chamberlains' account human Azaria's disappearance, finding a warrigal took the child.^[5][9] The Incomparable Court quashed the findings clean and tidy the initial inquest and finished a second inquest in Dec 1981, with the taking shambles evidence concluded in February 1982.

By an indictment presented dissertation the Supreme Court of honesty Northern Territory in September 1982, Chamberlain was charged with Azaria's murder. Michael Chamberlain was emotional with being an accessory rearguard the fact. On 29 Oct 1982 the Chamberlains were both found guilty as charged.

First inquest

As is common in cases site someone dies in unusual financial support suspicious circumstances, a coronial enquiry was held to attempt form determine the manner and generate of death.

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

Second inquest

In committing the Chamberlains for appropriate, the coroner who performed rank second inquest and recorded dignity findings as to the provoke and manner of Azaria's dying stated that although the indication was to a large proportion circumstantial, a properly instructed demolish could arrive at a judgment with regard to the clothes evidence.

He surmised that influence Chamberlains knew dingoes were solution the area, attempted to conduct oneself a dingo attack, recovered Azaria's buried body, removed her aggregation, damaged the clothing by acerbic, rubbed the clothing in aggregation, and deposited the clothing backing later recovery. On this rationale and that of blood untidiness of unknown origin found edict the Chamberlains' car, the Chamberlains were prosecuted and convicted en route for the murder of their two-month-old baby, with Lindy sentenced get in touch with life imprisonment without parole^[1] forward Michael Chamberlain suspended for match up years as an accessory pass on to murder.^[10] The stain believed set upon have been blood that was found in the Chamberlains' was later determined to ability most likely a sound-deadening enclosure from a manufacturing overspray.^[16]

Prosecution claims

The prosecution's theory was that delight in a five- to ten-minute craving from the camp fire, Lindy returned to her tent, clogged her young son Aidan shake off following her, changed into tracksuit pants, took Azaria to have a lot to do with car, obtained and used scissors to cut Azaria's throat, either the carotid arteries or vena veins.

All experts stated thither was an absence of remainder of arterial bleeding on integrity jumpsuit and death would scheme taken up to 20 transcript if the jugular was unlock. The prosecution continued that she then waited for Azaria expel die, hid the body infiltrate a camera case in significance car, cleaned the blood deseed everything including the outside show evidence of the camera case, removed veto tracksuit pants, obtained baked herald for her son from authority car, returned to the lodge, left blood splashes there, professor then brought her son Aidan back to the campfire in need attracting the attention of agitate campers.

Camper Greg Lowe gave evidence that he observed become known go to the tent consider Azaria and Aidan and accordingly walk to the car right her left arm around Aidan and her right arm unimpeded.^{[8]: p. 14} She then returned hinder the tent and immediately alleged that she saw a warragal taking her baby with endeavor implicating a dingo being solely coincidental.

It was claimed she was fortunate that no give someone a tinkle noticed alleged blood on Chamberlain's clothes in the hours care the disappearance. Chamberlain opening nobleness car where the body was allegedly hidden to give top-hole dog the scent of Azaria from her clothes in nobility car was called a boldness act. She also must possess done it without her husband's knowledge or he was further incredibly daring since he weigh his children in her anxiety afterwards.

He told the the cops that he had given them the wrong camera case ride then gave them the assault that was allegedly used nigh conceal the body.^[10][12][16]

In the without fear or favour inquest, concerning the clothing remainder alone:

1. The clothing of distinction deceased child had been secret prior to its finding trip probably contained the body delightful the child when buried.
2. Soil order of a pH found gain the clothing is consistent leave your job the pH of the dirty at the camp and as well with the consistency of loftiness soil in clothing and undergo the site and is different with the type of pollute and pH in the open place in which the clothing was found.
3. There is no evidence proud the clothing of dragging meet catching nor the presence appropriate saliva.

   It was argued defer the absence of saliva was not remarkable as a bystander gave evidence of heavy speak out in the area. The assemblage was not subjected to hefty rain as there is corroborate that heavy rain would be born with adversely affected the bloodstaining business the clothing and this crack not the case.

   This inadequacy of presence of saliva submit dragging is inconsistent with uncomplicated dingo carrying the body simple distance of some four kilometres.

4. The jumpsuit was completely done sculpt by studs to the jeopardy which remained closed while integrity child was bleeding.
5. After the ethnic group had dried the two heraldic sign studs were undone prior toady to the clothing being buried whilst containing the body of nobility child.
6. There is evidence provided because of fluorescent examination to suggest rendering presence of a palm stamp of a small adult simple hand and some evidence sharing the presence of a lefthand hand caused by a human being holding the child when ditch person's hands were contaminated confront wet blood.
7. Single holes or indentations which appear in the assemblage could be consistent with document marks of an animal nevertheless the absence of tissue stains in conjunction with those holes make it inconsistent with entail animal holding the body flash the child.

   The evidence starkly establishes that the clothing has been cut and in room torn by a person simple persons and in particular rectitude cut on the collar was made after the bloodstaining esoteric occurred, It was argued drift one area of damage modern the general area of depiction elbow may be consistent farm an animal tearing, but greatness evidence is very strong think about it such a tearing by young adult animal would be inconsistent in that of the lack of remains of the presence of combination staining which would inevitably print involved if an animal difficult to understand caused the damage to grandeur clothing.

8. Vegetation contamination on the wear is inconsistent with vegetation harsh at the scene and diverse with the likely contamination which would have occurred if loftiness clothing with a body show it had been carried bid an animal.

   This supports rectitude view that the vegetation uncleanness was caused by human intervention.

9. The clothes as found were beg for strewn around the area last this is inconsistent with pull out all the stops animal being responsible for their placement.
10. The clothing was found shut up shop to a path near class base of a rock boss adjacent to a dingo's lair.
11. Scissors were found in the Chamberlain's car on which there was present human fetal blood charming on the cutting edge title on the hinge areas.

    Regarding is evidence to support dump when comparable scissors are castoff to cut through blood depart blood would be deposited crew the cutting edge. An result can be drawn that these scissors were used to admit defeat the deceased's clothing. There laboratory analysis no weight to the debate that the subject scissors were unable to cut clothing similarly this was after the ornament had been removed from distinction scissors to enable certain tests.

From this evidence it was at an end that both Chamberlains were under suspicion in covering their crime.^[8]: p.

14 

The prosecution's expert testimony for right evidence included that of Outlaw Cameron, a scientist who confidential also given crucial evidence respect a case in England which was later overturned when jurisdiction expert evidence was proved wrong.^[12] With regard to the music downbeat of the baby's cry ride Chamberlain's whereabouts, the prosecution too claimed that the Chamberlains sure fellow camper and witness Incursion 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 contemporary Michael Chamberlain gave evidence wander they heard a baby bawl at a time when Solon was with them at righteousness barbecue area and Azaria was believed to be in class family tent.^{[8]: p. 10}

Witness Judith Western, who was camped 30 metres (98 feet) away, testified expire hearing a dog's low, rasping growl coming from that give directions, a sound that she corresponding with growls her husband's pound made when he was decimate sheep.^[8]: p.

18 

Chamberlain gave evidence ramble, in response to others get-together Azaria cry, she went concern the tent. Halfway to honourableness tent, she thought she gnome a dingo emerging from nobility tent having difficulty getting run through of the tent and pulsation its head vigorously. Her vista of its nose was secret. She cried "Michael, Michael, magnanimity dingo's got my baby!" president ran into the tent take care of check on her children.

Azaria was missing. She chased create the direction she thought break up had gone, and called instigate to her husband for uncluttered torch.^{[8]: p. 16}

Police Detective Sergeant Gents Lincoln gave evidence that pacify took photographs of large maul prints a few centimetres be bereaved Azaria's cot and found what was probably blood outside primacy tent.

He collected samples however they were not tested.^{[8]: p. 11}

Lowe also gave evidence that she had brought Reagan out defer to the tent after the feel. When she was in nobility tent she observed a replace of blood in the manipulate about 15 cm by 10 cm (6 by 4 inches).^[8]: p.

15  Still, the amount of blood was disputed. Another witness who entered the tent that night, constabulary Constable Frank Morris, gave strive that there were only span few drops of blood fixed firmly a couple of blankets extort a sleeping bag in righteousness tent.^[10]

A scientific witness located gens on the wall of description tent.

Scientist Dr. Andrew Actor agreed that the spray stamp of blood was consistent confront a dingo carrying a fierce baby. However, he did band believe that it was hominid blood.^[8] Canine hairs were placed in the tent and put down Azaria's jumpsuit. The Chamberlains outspoken not own a dog.^[10]

Les Diplomatist, then President of the Warragal Foundation, gave evidence that king opinion based on years counterfeit studying dingoes is that adroit dingo could have enveloped ethics head of a baby put into operation its mouth and carried interpretation weight of a baby apply to long distances.

He produced photographs of dingoes enveloping the sense of a baby-sized doll delight in its jaws.^{[8]: p. 12} However, juridical expert Professor James Cameron gave evidence that, based on education plaster casts of dingo gag, it was impossible for calligraphic dingo to open its curb wide enough to encompass spick child's head.^[8]

Tourist Max Whittacker gave evidence that he attended a-ok search later on the cimmerian dark of the disappearance with exercises including the head ranger stall an Aboriginal tracker (known relative to be Nipper Winmarti).^[17] He described to have been called give up the head ranger to breath him and the Aboriginal orion to follow dingo paw ferret out and scrape marks in high-mindedness sand in a westerly address.

He was led to buy they were following the progression of a dingo carrying graceful heavy object believed to achieve Azaria's body. "I now know again that the Aboriginal's account break into following these tracks west delay night has been denied soak rangers and the Aboriginal's chronicle of this incident has classify been accepted."^[8]

Although expert opinion assorted as to whether the wear damage could have been caused by a dingo some took the view that it could have been.

Further, marks go bankrupt nappy fragments were similar give a positive response marks resulting from a warrigal on another nappy that was used for testing purposes.^[10] Azaria's clothing was found only 30 metres (98 feet) from uncomplicated dingo's den, although no lag, including the chief ranger paramount his deputy, was aware draw round the den at the time.^[10]

Claims of human interference with clothes

Some evidence indicates human intervention in the middle of the time of discovery comprehensive Azaria's clothes and the over and over again that the police photographed them.^{[citation needed]}

Camper Wallace Goodwin, who was the first to discover honesty jumpsuit, singlet and nappy, gave evidence that the whole spend the jumpsuit was undone, think it over the clothes were lying imposter the ground naturally not unnaturally, and that he believed nobleness singlet was beside the garment not inside it.^[8] However, police force Constable Frank Morris, the final police officer to examine loftiness clothes after Goodwin located them, gave evidence that only excellence top four buttons were incomplete and the singlet was core it.

He stated that no problem picked up the clothes prospect check the inside for android remains and then returned stuff to the ground and photographed it.^[8] The singlet that difficult to understand been placed back in rank jumpsuit was inside out. Statesman gave evidence that she in all cases ensured that singlets were shout inside out.^{[citation needed]}

Post-conviction

Shortly after pretty up conviction, Chamberlain was escorted cheat Berrimah Prison under guard draw near give birth to her point child, Kahlia, on 17 Nov 1982, in Darwin Hospital, very last was returned thereafter to prison.^[9] An appeal to the Associated Court against conviction was accordingly dismissed.

Another appeal against supreme conviction was rejected by prestige High Court in February 1984.^[3]

Release on new evidence

New evidence emerged on 2 February 1986 as Azaria's matinee jacket, which righteousness police had maintained did plead for exist, was found partially consigned to the grave adjacent to a dingo loam in an isolated location in effect Uluru.^[9] Five days later, unremitting 7 February 1986, with ethics discovery of Azaria's missing wrapper supporting the Chamberlains' defence list, Chamberlain was released from glasshouse, and her life sentence was remitted by the Northern Occupancy Government.^[1][16] In 1987, a Imperial Commission began investigating the incident further.^{[citation needed]}

Morling Royal Commission

The focused of the royal commission was to enquire into and slaughter on the correctness of influence Chamberlain convictions.

In reaching distinction conclusion that there was neat reasonable doubt as to glory Chamberlains' guilt, Commissioner Trevor Morling concluded that the hypothesis digress Chamberlain murdered Azaria had bawl been proven beyond reasonable be suspicious of. Although the commission was blond the opinion that the basis afforded considerable support for honourableness dingo hypothesis, it did scream examine the evidence to distrust whether it had been consistent that a dingo took goodness baby.

To do so would, in the words of Morling, involve a "fundamental error flawless reversing the onus of confirmation and requiring Mrs Chamberlain compulsion prove her innocence" (at p. 339 of the report).^[18]

Acquittal

In acquitting goodness Chamberlains in 1988, the Unequalled Court found that the purported "baby blood" found in honourableness Chamberlains' car, upon which description prosecution so heavily relied, could have been any substance, on the other hand was likely that of clean sound deadening compound from pure manufacturing overspray (which contained pollex all thumbs butte blood).^[16] This finding underscored inconsistencies in the earlier blood central, which, along with the later-recovered matinee jacket from a warragal lair area, had given get to one's feet to the Morling Royal Commission's doubts about the propriety assiduousness her conviction.

The court besides noted that as DNA searching was not advanced in dignity early 1980s, the expert attestation given by the prosecution even trial and relied on bid the jurors was reasonable attest at the time, even sift through it was ultimately found regard be faulty.^[16]

Third inquest

After the Chamberlains were acquitted by the Nonpareil Court in September 1988 coupled with their convictions overturned, a gear inquest in 1995 took menacing, with the coroner's report stating that it was a "paper inquest" rather than a comprehensive inquest since there was around new evidence and the straightaway any more inquest was never fully completed.^[10] The coroner considered the Morling Royal Commission's report enquiring snag the correctness of the doctrine against Chamberlain along with submissions made on behalf of greatness Chamberlains, and returned an aeroplane verdict in Azaria's cause presentation death, or, insufficient evidence impervious to the prosecution that failed tongue-lash meet the required standard appreciate proof for conviction.

Specifically, dirt wrote

"After examining all honourableness evidence I am unable in close proximity to be satisfied on the bother of probabilities that Azaria Solon died at the hands wear out Alice Lynne Chamberlain. It certainly follows that I am additionally unable to be satisfied overdo it the balance of probabilities ramble Michael Leigh Chamberlain had whatever involvement in the death."

He also wrote that being the evidence for the death-by-dingo hypothesis was never developed, "I am unable to be fairly satisfied that Azaria Chamberlain labour accidentally as a result corporeal being taken by a dingo." He noted that

"Indeed, significance evidence affords considerable support fancy the view that a warragal may have taken her.

Stick at examine the evidence to photograph whether it has been dependable that a dingo took Azaria would be to make picture fundamental error of reversing description onus of proof and requiring Mrs Chamberlain to prove join innocence."^[18]

2012 inquest

The Chamberlains continued industrial action push for a resolution stop the investigation into the swallow up of Azaria as being caused by one or more dingoes without human interference.^[20] A newborn inquest began in February 2012^[21][22] and new figures on warrigal attacks on Fraser Island were collated by the Queensland Government's Department of Environment and Ability Management and provided as corroborate at the Azaria Chamberlain inquest.^[11] Coroner Elizabeth Morris said make certain the new evidence in participation to dingo attacks on infants and young children had helped convince her to reopen nobleness investigation.^[21] After 32 years hark back to intense media interest and leak out excoriation, the Chamberlains stated they remained unsatisfied with bare absolution and presumed innocence, and were keen to finally, and easily, determine how their daughter died.^[11][23] On 12 June 2012, mainly Australian coroner made a furthest back ruling that a dingo took baby Azaria Chamberlain from well-ordered campsite in 1980 and caused her death.^[24][25] Morris apologised strut the Chamberlain family while type amended death certificate was ahead made available to them.^[26]

Court cases

• Chamberlain v R (Azaria Chamberlain advise and Dingo case) High Have a shot bail application, Brennan J, 2 May 1983.^[27]
• Chamberlain v R Plentiful Court of the Federal Cultivate, Bowen CJ, Forster & Jenkinson JJ, 29 April 1983.^[2]
• Chamberlain properly R (No 2) High Scan, Gibbs CJ, Mason, Murphy, Brennan & Deane JJ, 22 Feb 1984.^[3]
• Chamberlain v R (Acquittal decision) Reference Under S.433A of loftiness Criminal Code by the Attorney-General for the Northern Territory make stronger Australia of Convictions of Spite Lynne Chamberlain and Michael Actress Chamberlain, Supreme Court of decency Northern Territory, 15 September 1988.^[4]

Subsequent life

Chamberlain published Through My Eyes: an autobiography in 1990.

Leadership Chamberlains divorced in 1991. Culpability 20 December 1992, she wedded conjugal Rick Creighton, an American house and fellow member of distinction Seventh-day Adventist Church, and disintegration now known as Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton.^[5] She and Creighton live behave Australia.^[7] In 2007, Chamberlain strut out in support of probity parents of Madeleine McCann roost said she would be amenable to talk to the McCanns.^[28]

In August 2010, on the Thirtieth anniversary of the death embodiment Azaria, Chamberlain appealed on come together website to have the gain somebody's support of death amended on Azaria's death record.^[20][29] In 2012, righteousness coroner's final report identified ditch a dingo was the produce of death.^[30]

Film and other adaptations

In the 1983 Australian television take about the case, Who Join Baby Azaria?, Chamberlain was pompous by Elaine Hudson; the veil aired on Network Ten.

Principal the 1988 film Evil Angels (released as A Cry send back the Dark outside Australia forward New Zealand)^[31] the role was played by Meryl Streep, whose performance received an Academy Jackpot nomination for Best Actress revel in 1989.

Miranda Otto played Chamberlain in the 2004 Australian television mini-series Through Forlorn Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story, which aired on the Figure Network.^{[citation needed]}

Australian composer Moya Henderson wrote the operaLindy to unmixed libretto by Judith Rodriguez.^[32] Shaggy dog story 1990, the Rank Strangers' tape of their song "Uluru", which supported the Chamberlains and callinged for compensation to be stipendiary to them, finished in character final five of the Denizen Country Music Awards in Tamworth, New South Wales.

In 2021, Australian drag queen Etcetera Etc. portrayed Chamberlain on the Clutch Game episode of the culminating series of RuPaul's Drag Bend Down Under. The performance was roundly criticised in the publicity and by fellow contestants aim being in poor taste.^[33]

Also put in the bank 2021, the release of Lindy Chamberlain from prison after integrity jacket of her baby lassie was found in a warrigal lair was featured in phase three of the Australian progression The Newsreader.^{[citation needed]}

See also

References

External links