An Australian woman convicted of the death of her four children was pardoned after 20 years in prison, Authorities reported Monday.
Kathleen Folbigg was known as “Australia’s worst serial killer” after being convicted in 2003 on charges of murder of three of her children and manslaughter of the fourth.
But New South Wales State Attorney General Michael Daley said an investigation launched in May 2022 established “reasonable doubt” around the convictions and that Folbigg was pardoned.
“In the interest of justice, Kathleen Folbigg must be released from custody as soon as possible,” Daley said Monday.
Two decades ago, prosecutors They alleged that she suffocated the children, who were between nine weeks and three years old, but Folbigg has argued that the deaths were due to natural causes.
In 2021, dozens of scientists from Australia and abroad signed a petition calling for Folbigg’s release, noting that new forensic evidence suggests the unexplained deaths are linked to rare genetic mutations or congenital abnormalities.
In the absence of firm forensic evidence, prosecutors argued that it was extremely rare for four children to die suddenly without explanation.
But retired judge Tom Bathurst, who led the new investigation, said medical conditions were found that could account for three of the deaths.
He specified that two girls have a rare genetic mutation while a boy would have had an “underlying neurogenic condition.”
Given these factors, Bathurst determined that the death of the fourth child was also not suspicious.
She added that she cannot accept that “Folbigg was anything other than a loving mother to her children.”
The Australian Academy of Sciences, which assisted in the research, said it was “relieved” that justice was done for Folbigg.
