<-- The mother is finally vindicated
The official finding that a dingo -- a type
of wild dog -- killed Azaria ends a legal battle that has been fought
over four inquests, a murder trial, through Federal and High Court
appeals and a judicial inquiry.
Until Tuesday, questions had remained over
the cause of Azaria's death, despite a 1988 ruling quashing
Chamberlain-Creighton's conviction and life sentence for her daughter's
murder.
Turning to address the family directly,
Morris said: "Please accept my sincere sympathy on the death of your
special and loved daughter and sister Azaria.
"I'm so sorry for your loss. Time does not
remove the pain and sadness at the death of a child," she added, her
voice straining with emotion.
Stuart Tipple, the lawyer who has represented
the couple throughout their ordeal, described the atmosphere inside the
court as "electric."
"When the coroner extended her sympathy and
broke down herself I don't think there were too many dry eyes," he said.
When the Chamberlains left the court room they were given a standing
ovation, he added, and later outside they were applauded by the waiting
press.
"I've never seen that done before. I thought that really indicates how the tide has changed."
Everything changed for Lindy and Michael Chamberlain on the night of August 17, 1980.
Court documents stated, Lindy, then 32, left
the campsite barbecue to put her daughter and six-year-old son Aiden to
bed in the family tent where her other son, four-year-old Reagan, was
already asleep.
According to her testimony, Lindy tucked
Azaria into her bassinet before going with Aiden to the car to get some
baked beans after he complained that he was hungry.
"There is no doubt that she did return to the
barbecue area, accompanied by Aiden and carrying the tin of beans and a
tin opener, about five or ten minutes after she had left. She seemed
normal and quite composed. No one saw any blood on her clothes or her
person," the court documents read.
It was during her absence from the barbecue
that the prosecution alleged Chamberlain-Creighton slit her baby's
throat with a pair of scissors before hiding the body, possibly in a
camera bag. She was alleged to have buried the body later near the
campsite with the help of her husband Michael. He was charged with being
an accessory to murder after the fact in a conviction that was later
quashed.
Outside the court Tuesday, Michael Chamberlain declared, "The truth is out."
"This battle to get to the legal truth about
what caused Azaria's death has taken too long," he said. "However, I am
here to tell you that you can get justice even when you think that all
is lost."
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