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Australian coroner finds dingo took baby Azaria in 1980 Australian coroner finds dingo took baby Azaria in 1980
(40 minutes later)
An Australian coroner has found that a dingo took baby Azaria Chamberlain from her family's tent in 1980 and was responsible for her death, the final ruling in a case that split national opinion and attracted global headlines.An Australian coroner has found that a dingo took baby Azaria Chamberlain from her family's tent in 1980 and was responsible for her death, the final ruling in a case that split national opinion and attracted global headlines.
The coroner's finding ends a three-decade fight for justice by Azaria's parents, Michael Chamberlain and Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, who was jailed over her daughter's death before she was later cleared.The coroner's finding ends a three-decade fight for justice by Azaria's parents, Michael Chamberlain and Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, who was jailed over her daughter's death before she was later cleared.
"This has been a terrifying battle, bitter at times, but now some healing, and a chance to put our daughter's spirit to rest," Michael Chamberlain told reporters in the Northern Territory capital Darwin after the coroner's ruling.
Azaria disappeared on 17 August, 1980, from a tent in a camping ground near Uluru, a haunting monolith formerly known as Ayers Rock, one of central Australia's main tourist attractions. Her body was never found.Azaria disappeared on 17 August, 1980, from a tent in a camping ground near Uluru, a haunting monolith formerly known as Ayers Rock, one of central Australia's main tourist attractions. Her body was never found.
Northern Territory Coroner Elizabeth Morris found evidence from the case proved a dingo or dingoes were responsible for 9-week-old Azaria's death and ruled that her death certificate should read "attacked and taken by a dingo".Northern Territory Coroner Elizabeth Morris found evidence from the case proved a dingo or dingoes were responsible for 9-week-old Azaria's death and ruled that her death certificate should read "attacked and taken by a dingo".
"What occurred on 17th August, 1980, was that shortly after Mrs Chamberlain placed Azaria in the tent, a dingo or dingoes entered the tent, took Azaria and carried and dragged her from the immediate area," Morris said."What occurred on 17th August, 1980, was that shortly after Mrs Chamberlain placed Azaria in the tent, a dingo or dingoes entered the tent, took Azaria and carried and dragged her from the immediate area," Morris said.
In an emotional finding, Morris then offered her condolences to the Chamberlains, who were in the Darwin court room.In an emotional finding, Morris then offered her condolences to the Chamberlains, who were in the Darwin court room.
"Please accept my sincere sympathy on the death of your special loved daughter and sister Azaria. I am so sorry for your loss," she said to the family."Please accept my sincere sympathy on the death of your special loved daughter and sister Azaria. I am so sorry for your loss," she said to the family.
"Time does not remove the pain and sadness of the death of a child," Morris said."Time does not remove the pain and sadness of the death of a child," Morris said.
Michael Chamberlain said outside the court the ordeal had been "a terrifying battle" but now the family had "a chance to put our daughter's spirit to rest". He and his former wife have always maintained Azaria was taken by a dingo. A first inquest in 1981 supported the Chamberlain's account but, a second inquest in 1982 overturned that finding and recommended Lindy and Michael Chamberlain stand trial over Azaria's death.
Azaria's death has now been the subject of four coronial inquests and a judicial inquiry known as a Royal Commission. Lindy Chamberlain, then pregnant with her fourth child, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Michael Chamberlain was convicted of being an accessory and given a suspended sentence.
A judicial inquiry, known as a Royal Commission, overturned the convictions in 1987, leading to Lindy Chamberlain's release. A third inquest in 1985 returned an open verdict.
The latest inquest, however, heard new evidence of several dingo attacks on humans, including details of how a nine-year old boy died in Queensland after being attacked in 2001.