POST: "On 60 Minutes, March 17) Reporter Tara Brown delves into the case of child killer Kathleen Folbigg, whose judicial inquiry begins on Monday," posted by Sixty Minutes Australia
PHOTO CAPTION: Brown speaks to Carol Matthey (pictured), another mother cleared over the murder of her infants.
GIST: "Is there a more hated woman in Australia than Kathleen Folbigg? Over a period of 10 years, one by one, she killed her four babies. Her crimes are so inconceivable it is still hard to fathom how and why she did it. That is, until you consider this – maybe Kathleen Folbigg was wrongly accused. She has always maintained her innocence, and on Monday a judicial inquiry reviewing her conviction begins. After 15 years in prison, it might lead to her freedom. Hoping that’s the case is Carol Matthey. More than anyone, she knows what Kathleen has endured because, incredibly, she too was accused of killing four of her babies. As Tara Brown reports in this 60 Minutes special investigation, the two cases are remarkably similar, right down to the expert witnesses called upon to determine the truth. Yet while Kathleen was convicted as Australia’s worst female serial killer, the prosecution against Carol was thrown out. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: Grace Tobin."
The entire episode can be read at:
https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/03/60-minutes-march-17.html
Excellent background material relevant to the judicial inquiry set for Monday can be read in its entirety at the link below under heading 'Conviction of serial killer Kathleen Folbigg questioned in light of new forensic evidence' by reporter Antonette Collins, published by ABC News on October 25, 2018. "Ms Folbigg was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison in New South Wales after being found guilty in 2003 of the murder of three of her infants and the manslaughter of a fourth over a 10-year period from 1989. She has always maintained her innocence. At today's directions hearing, former chief District Court judge Reginald Blanch QC said an inquiry, unlikely to begin until February or March next year, would examine new evidence from forensic pathologists. Senior counsel assisting the inquiry Gail Furness told the hearing the convictions were based on circumstantial evidence and four new reports from medical experts suggest the deaths could be explained by unidentified natural causes. "Three of the reports concern the cause of the deaths and one is addressed to the use of diary evidence. None of those authors gave evidence at the trial," Ms Furness said. The main report expected to be relied upon, by Monash University forensic pathologist Professor Stephen Cordner, concluded "there is nothing from a forensic pathology viewpoint to suggest that any of the children had been killed". Ms Furness said the report by Mr Cordner indicated there were natural causes of death for two of the children, Patrick and Laura, and natural causes were a plausible explanation for the other two deaths, Caleb and Sarah. A peer-reviewed report on his work, which will also be examined, suggested the "jury was almost certainly misled by statement made by experts regarding the rarity of multiple cases of SIDS [sudden infant death syndrome]". A report from a clinical psychologists suggested Ms Folbigg's diary entries, which were crucial to the prosecution argument against her, did not contain a clear admission of guilt. However, Ms Furness said the report did not generate enough doubt to warrant further examination of the diary entries.
Instead, the scope of the inquiry will focus on medical evidence in light of any new material to have emerged since 2003. Outside court, barrister Isabel Reed, who has been one of a number of lawyers working on the review, said her client was "as well as could be expected". A senior counsel is yet to be appointed to represent Ms Folbigg at the inquiry."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-25/kathleen-folbigg-inquiry-examines-new-evidence/10427986
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/
