Australia - Mother allegedly killed children - acquitted after 20 years
An Australian woman spent 20 years in prison for the deaths of her four young children - now a court has overturned her conviction. The evidence from the original trial against the woman was not reliable, ruled Andrew Bell, Chief Justice of the New South Wales Criminal Appeal Court.
Australia: Case reopened after 20 years
Outside the Sydney courthouse, Kathleen Folbigg said she was grateful for modern science and genetics, which had now provided answers to the question of how her children had died. "However, even in 1999 we had legal answers to prove my innocence. But they were ignored and dismissed."
The now 56-year-old was found guilty of killing her four children in 2003. She was sentenced to 40 years in prison, the sentence was later reduced. She always maintained her innocence. The children had died suddenly over a period of ten years (1989-1999) between the ages of 19 days and one and a half years. The case caused quite a stir. The mother was dubbed "Australia's worst serial killer".
In June of this year, the woman was pardoned and released from prison. According to scientific findings, the two boys and two girls may have died of natural causes.
A new investigation was launched after it was discovered that the woman had passed on a rare genetic mutation to her two daughters. This can lead to cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death. The case was then reopened.
Read also:
- Stark-Watzinger: Universities should use their domiciliary rights in the event of anti-Semitic incidents
- Suspected murderer of a German in Paris confesses to IS
- George Floyd's murderer Derek Chauvin: fellow inmate stabbed him 22 times
- Young German dies in suspected terror attack near the Eiffel Tower
- The headlines of top news outlets around the world have been dominated by the acquittal of the Australian mother who spent 20 years in prison for the alleged killings of her children.
- The acquittal of the mother, who is now living in Sydney, has been a top news story in Australia, with many people questioning the reliability of the evidence used in her original trial.
- The world has been following the developments in the case closely, with many people expressing their relief that the woman was finally acquitted after 20 years in prison.
- The acquittal of the mother, who was dubbed "Australia's worst serial killer," has sparked a debate in Australia about the reliability of evidence and the justice system.
Source: www.stern.de
