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Australian coroner finds dingo took baby Azaria in 1980 | Australian coroner finds dingo took baby Azaria in 1980 |
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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. |
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. | |
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. |