Australian coroner confirms dingo killed baby in 1980

Los Angeles Times ^ | June 11, 2012, 9:39 p.m. | (From the Associated Press)

[Olog-hai]

Settling a notorious 1980 case that split the nation and led to a mistaken murder conviction, an Australian coroner ruled Tuesday that a dingo took a baby from a campsite in the Outback, just as her mother said from the beginning.

The eyes of Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton and her ex-husband, Michael Chamberlain, welled with tears as the findings of the fourth inquest into the disappearance of their 9-week-old daughter, Azaria, were announced in court. Lindy Chamberlain served more than three years in prison for the baby's death, but was later cleared and has always maintained that a wild dog took her.

"We're relieved and delighted to come to the end of this saga," a tearful but smiling Chamberlain-Creighton told reporters outside the court in the northern city of Darwin.

Azaria disappeared from a campsite near Ayers Rock, the red monolith in the Australian desert now known by its Aboriginal name Uluru. The case became famous internationally through the 1988 movie "A Cry in the Dark."

Many Australians initially did not believe that a dingo was strong enough to take away the baby. Public opinion swayed harshly against the couple; some even spat on Chamberlain-Creighton and howled like dingoes outside her house.

No similar dingo attack had been documented at the time, but in recent years the wild dogs have been blamed for three fatal attacks on children. Few doubt the couple's story today, but the latest inquest—which the family had fought to get—made it official that Azaria was killed in a dingo attack. …

[Colorado Cowgirl]

Sorry, maybe I was having too much fun!!!

[sand88]

And even more importantly, never underestimate the will and determination of a prosecutor hell bent on conviction, facts be damned.

There are more than a few. Because of the position they hold, I believe if prosecutors are found to be corrupt or blatantly ignore the facts, they should be subject to life in prison with absolutely no chance of parole.

In addition, they should have 100% of their assets seized, even if it means throwing their family onto the streets.

There is very little that is more evil than people in such public positions of sacred trust, being corrupt and corrosive to the rule of law.