SYDNEY: A woman imprisoned for 20 years over the deaths of her four children was pardoned by New South Wales state on Monday after a judicial review found there was reasonable doubt about the original convictions.
Kathleen Megan Folbigg was convicted in 2003 for the murder of her three children and manslaughter of her fourth. Folbigg maintained her innocence and said the children had died of natural causes.
An initial inquiry in 2019 found the evidence reinforced Folbigg's guilt. However a second inquiry led by former chief justice Thomas Bathurst revisited her convictions in 2022 after new evidence suggested two of the children had a genetic mutation that could have caused their deaths.
New South Wales state Attorney General Michael Daley pardoned Folbigg on Monday after summary findings from the Bathurst inquiry found reasonable doubt for each conviction.
"The result today is confirmation that our judicial system is capable of delivering justice, and demonstrates that the rule of law is an important underpinning of our democratic system," said Daley.
"Given all that has happened over the last 20 years, it is impossible not to feel sympathy for Kathleen and Craig Folbigg."
Daley said the unconditional pardon would allow Folbigg to walk free but would not quash her convictions.
In a memo to the Attorney General, Bathurst said there was a reasonable possibility three of the children died from natural causes, two due to a genetic mutation known as CALM2-G114R and one because of an underlying neurogenic disorder.
Such doubts then undermined the Crown's case in relation to the manslaughter of her fourth child, Bathurst added.
"Further, I am unable to accept the proposition that the evidence establishes that Ms Folbigg was anything but a caring mother for her children," he said.
Reuters
Mon Jun 05 2023
Kathleen Megan Folbigg was convicted in 2003 for the murder of her three children and manslaughter of her fourth. - PEXELS/Filepic
Pegawai, anggota bomba di lima negeri ada masalah kesihatan
Ujian Kemahiran Taktikal Kebombaan diduduki seramai 12,608 anggota dan pegawai dan hanya 9,313 sahaja yang lulus.
Kerajaan komited lahirkan lebih ramai teknousahawan
Anugerah Teknousahawan TVET@KKDW diperkenalkan bagi memberi pengiktirafan serta penghargaan kepada institusi, pengajar, pelajar, graduan dan alumni yang telah menunjukkan kecemerlangan dalam bidang keusahawanan TVET.
Kedah bakal bangunkan LRT di Langkawi
Kedah merancang membina sistem tren Transit Aliran Ringan (LRT) menggunakan teknologi levitasi magnet di Langkawi
Kes pedofilia MRSM Tumpat diklasifikasikan fitnah, tiada bukti kukuh
Kes pedofilia terhadap seorang guru Maktab Rendah Sains Mara di Tumpat diklasifikasikan sebagai fitnah selepas siasatan tidak menemui bukti kukuh berhubung kes itu, kata Ketua Polis Kelantan Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun.
Kerajaan berusaha tangani inflasi, tingkat kuasa beli rakyat
Menurut Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, kerajaan tidak berdiam diri dalam menangani masalah inflasi termasuk melalui pelaksanaan pelbagai bentuk intervensi seperti kawalan harga.
Keutamaan negara Asia Barat untuk penuhi hasrat rakyat Palestin
Sekiranya Palestin diberikan negara dan kebebasan, mana-mana pihak tidak perlu lagi campur tangan dan tidak ada lagi konflik di Timur Tengah.
WEF gemakan wawasan, keterbukaan Malaysia dalam tiga hasrat
Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Dunia (WEF) menjadi platform untuk Malaysia menggemakan keterbukaan jalinan kerjasama untuk melonjakkan ekonomi negara.
Hari ketiga lawatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Riyadh Arab Saudi membawa wawasan Malaysia memperkasa hubungan bilateral antara negara, selain perbincangan mengenai pelaburan dan usaha memperkasa jalinan kerjasama sedia ada.
Hari ketiga lawatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Riyadh Arab Saudi membawa wawasan Malaysia memperkasa hubungan bilateral antara negara, selain perbincangan mengenai pelaburan dan usaha memperkasa jalinan kerjasama sedia ada.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Isnin, 29 April 2024.
WEF gemakan wawasan, keterbukaan Malaysia melalui tiga hasrat
Malaysia mahu perkasa hubungan bilateral antara negara, selain perbincangan mengenai pelaburan dan usaha mengukuhkan jalinan kerjasama sedia ada.