• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Woman dubbed 'Australia's worst female serial killer' is released after 20 years in prison

Home> News

Updated 10:43 5 Jun 2023 GMT+1Published 10:44 5 Jun 2023 GMT+1

Woman dubbed 'Australia's worst female serial killer' is released after 20 years in prison

Kathleen Folbigg has been pardoned after being jailed more than two decades ago for killing her four children

Gregory Robinson

Gregory Robinson

The woman dubbed ‘Australia’s worst female serial killer’ has been released after serving 20 years in prison.

Kathleen Folbigg, from New South Wales, was jailed in 2003 over the deaths of her four children: Sarah, Caleb, Laura and Patrick between 1989 and 1999.

She was 20 years old when she married Craig Folbigg and within a year she became pregnant with Caleb who was born in February 1989. He lived for only 19 days.

Advert

The following year, the Folbiggs welcomed another son, Patrick, who died at eight months.

Just two years later their daughter Sarah died aged 10 months and in 1999 the couple’s fourth and longest lived child, Laura, passed away at 18 months.

The police investigation into the deaths of the four children began the day Laura died but Folbigg was not charged and arrested until more than two years later.

In 2003, Judge Graham Barr sentenced Folbigg to 40 years in prison.

Advert

Kathleen Folbigg was released from prison after serving 20 years.
Australian Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo

The 55-year-old always maintained her innocence and claimed her children died from natural causes.

Folbigg lost an appeal to get her conviction overturned in 2021 which was launched and aided by a team of 90 experts, who all argued that the children died as a result of a genetic mutation.

The team signed a petition and sent it to NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, arguing that the 'miscarriage of justice' cannot be allowed to carry on any longer however Folbigg remained behind bars until today.

Advert

A second inquiry into her murder and manslaughter convictions heard new scientific and psychiatric evidence and found there was ‘reasonable doubt’ regarding Folbigg’s guilt.

On Monday (5 June), New South Wales Attorney-General Michael Daley said he advised Governor Margaret Beazley to grant the mother a pardon.

“This morning I met with the governor. I recommended that the governor should exercise the royal prerogative of mercy and grant Ms Folbigg an unconditional pardon,” he said, as per 7News.

“The governor agreed. Ms Folbigg has now been pardoned.”

Advert

Folbigg has been released from prison as of Monday morning local time, a spokesperson for Corrective Services NSW confirmed.

Kathleen Folbigg was found guilty in 2003 for the deaths of her four children.
Australian Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo

“It has been a 20-year ordeal for her,” Daley told reporters. “We wish her well for the rest of her life.”

Chief Justice Tom Bathurst advised there was reasonable doubt as to Folbigg’s guilt.

Advert

“I have reached the view there is reasonable doubt as to the guilt of Kathleen Folbigg for each of those offences,” he said in his summary findings.

Key points of Bathurst’s summary findings were released by Daley today which included that there is a reasonable possibility that three of the children died of natural causes, there is reasonable possibility that Sarah and Laura died due to a genetic mutation and mentioned he was ‘unable to accept… the proposition that Ms Folbigg was anything but a caring mother for her children’.

The unconditional pardon does not quash Folbigg's convictions, Daley noted. This would be a decision for the Court of Criminal Appeal, if Bathurst chooses to refer the case to it - a process which could potentially take up to a year.

Featured Image Credit: Australian Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: Crime, Australia

Gregory Robinson
Gregory Robinson

Gregory is a journalist for UNILAD. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, he has worked for both print and online publications and is particularly interested in TV, (pop) music and lifestyle. He loves Madonna, teen dramas from the '90s and prefers tea over coffee.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    What happens if Iran's leader is removed or dies after going into hiding amid Israel and USA attacks

    Three major Iranian nuclear sites were bombed by the US over the weekend

    News
  • an hour ago

    Inside B-2 stealth bombers and how they made 18-hour journey 'without the world knowing’

    Each jet is said to have cost over $2 billion to build

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Justin Bieber fans concerned after sharing cryptic post about 'silent treatment' amid 'savage' post from wife Hailey

    Justin Bieber's fans have been concerned about his marriage for some time

    Celebrity
  • 2 hours ago

    Before and after photos show key differences of Iran’s nuclear sites after US bombing as expert explains the impact

    Satellite images were caught over three nuclear sites after Donald Trump confirmed strikes against Iran

    News
  • Police claim they've solved 1980 cold case murder after first suspect wrongly spent 20 years in prison
  • Woman labeled 'serial killer' after being accused of killing three people in three days
  • Group of students think they've unmasked serial killer 40 years later and you'll never believe how
  • Woman who killed pop star Selena learns fate in prison 30 years after murder