Australia. Kathleen Folbigg acquitted. She was convicted of murdering her children

“There is reasonable doubt that Mrs. (Kathleen) Folbigg is responsible for the murder of her child Caleb, the grievous bodily harm of her child Patrick, and the murder of her children Patrick, Sarah and Laura,” the New South South’s chief prosecutor told reporters. Wales Michael Daley.

In 2003, 55 years old now Folbigg was found guilty of the murders of three of her childrenand – 19-month-old Laura, 10-month-old Sarah and 8-month-old Patrick – in 1991-1999. The court also found the woman guilty of causing the death of her fourth child, Caleb, who died in 1989 at the age of only 19 days. In this one case, the act was not classified as murder.

Folbigg, from Newcastle, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The Australian kept insisting that she was innocent, and her children died of the so-called cot death, i.e. the sudden death of an apparently healthy infant, which usually occurs during sleep. The woman repeatedly sought acquittal, but the requests made by her lawyers were rejected.

A few years ago, however, scientific opinions emerged that prompted investigators to reconsider the case. A second investigation into Folbigg’s guilt began after 90 scientists, doctors and other professionals signed a petition expressing the belief that Folbigg’s children had died of natural causes.

In 2018, it was discovered that both daughters – Sarah and Laura – had the rare CALM2 genetic trait. Patrick’s son was diagnosed with a “neurogenetic disorder” that caused his sudden death, lawyer Sophie Callan said.

Prosecutors said Folbigg confessed to the crime in her diary. Her lawyer, however, said the woman was suffering from a major depressive disorder when she made the entries, which undermined their credibility.