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Networked Knowledge Media Reports Networked Knowledge Kathleen Folbigg Homepage This Page Set up by Dr Robert N Moles [Underlini Networked Knowledge Media Reports Networked Knowledge Kathleen Folbigg Homepage This page set up by Dr Robert N Moles [Underlining where it occurs is for NetK editorial emphasis] On 5 March 2021 Debbie White of the Scottish Sun reported ‘Bombshell Testimony’ New scientific evidence could free Australia's “worst female serial killer” as the four kids she was convicted of killing had a rare genetic mutation, say experts. Ninety eminent scientists are calling for Kathleen Folbigg, 53, to be pardoned for the manslaughter and murder of her children Patrick, Laura, Sarah and Caleb. It's claimed that her kids might have died of natural causes and that "there is no basis in forensic pathology that any of the children were smothered". Researchers in Australia, Canada, the US, France, Italy and Denmark said genetic mutation in Folbigg’s two girls’ DNA had likely been deadly, claims the Justice for Kathleen Folbigg website. It adds: "The Danish scientists said the mutation, called CALM2 G114R, had been inherited from her. "The CALM2 mutation causes a condition called ‘Calmodulinopathy’, which can cause sudden cardiac death in very young children, the paper’s lead scientist said. "The scientists also believe Kathleen’s sons, Caleb and Patrick, had another genetic mutation that could have led to their deaths." A jury at the New South Wales Supreme Court in Sydney found Folbigg guilty of the manslaughter of 19-day-old Calab in 1989, and of murdering Patrick, eight months old, in 1991, 11-month-old Sarah in 1993 and 19-month-old Laura in 1999. Her children's deaths were initially blamed on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. But she was sentenced to at least 25 years in jail in 2003 after her husband Craig found her incriminating diaries. Her dad, Thomas John Britton, was a professional hitman who had stabbed her mum to death. The Times reported back then that they revealed a desperate, tortured woman who knew she was a danger to all her babies but had nowhere to turn for help. She had outlined a battle of wills with her kids, criticising herself as the worst mum in the world, while admitting that Sarah had died "with a bit of help". "Obviously I am my father's daughter," Folbigg wrote in her diary on October 14, 1996. But 90 scientists - including two Australian Nobel Laureates, medical practitioners, science leaders and prominent Australians - have now signed a petition calling for her immediate pardon and release from jail. The group submitted its petition to the Governor of NSW, Margaret Beazley, earlier this week after research led experts to conclude "there was no physical evidence the children were murdered". On May 23, 2003, she was found guilty by jury of the murder of Patrick, Sarah and Laura, and guilty of the manslaughter of Caleb "Kathleen Folbigg was a loving mother of four children," they say, adding, "the prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence to present their case. "Kathleen has spent the last 15 years in prison and continues to maintain her innocence." However, a 2019 inquiry led by Justice Reginald Blanch upheld Folbigg's convictions of murder and manslaughter. Justice Blanch said then that he had no "reasonable doubt" as to Folbigg's guilt. But a former law professor at University of Newcastle, Ray Waterson, described Folbigg’s convictions as among the “most contentious and troublesome in Australian history, alongside those of Lindy and Michael Chamberlain”. He was referring to the infamous "dingo’s got my baby" witch hunt that followed baby Azaria’s death in 1980, and the devastating impact of the miscarriage of justice on Lindy Chamberlain, husband Michael and their three surviving children in Australia. The petition presented to NSW bosses says that Folbigg's "basic human rights" are being ignored as she remains imprisoned. It includes medical and scientific explanations from leading experts in their field that - it's claimed - address each of the Folbigg children’s deaths. Childhood pal Tracy Chapman, who speaks to jailed Folbigg by phone every day, claimed there was "mounting new evidence that there were medical reasons behind the tragic deaths of her children. “Her journals have been taken out of context and not given due consideration to her diagnosis of complex grief disorder, PTSD and the role of journaling in that context. "It’s a shameful state of affairs, but the truth doesn’t lie. And denying the truth sure as hell does not change the facts.” In 2019, The Sun published an article about Folbigg breaking down in court as she recalled how a supermarket clairvoyant told her she was surrounded by the "happy" spirits of the four babies she killed. During a public appearance in court, she defended diary entries she made at the time and insisted she didn't kill her kids. Breaking down in tears, she said she "misses them all the time" and “never stops” searching for the reason her babies died. In October 2020, she was granted the right to continue her fight for justice in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal. ABC News in Australia reports that the decision to "pardon Folbigg now rests solely with the NSW Governor. "If Folbigg is successful in being pardoned, it would not mean her convictions for the children's deaths are automatically overturned. "She would still need to seek leave to appeal her conviction in the NSW courts." What did Kathleen Folbigg write in her diaries? The mum was convicted on largely circumstantial evidence in Australia, in 2003. Below are extracts from Folbigg's diaries showing her original grammar and uncorrected spelling: June 3 (year unclear) "This was the day Patrick Allan David Folbigg was born. I had mixed feelings this day. Wether or not I was going to cope as a mother or wether I was going to get stressed out like I did last time. I often regret Calab and Patrick, only because your life changes so much [sic]." Tuesday June 18, 1996 (After the deaths of her first three children in the previous seven years) "I'm ready this time. And I know Ill have help and support this time. When I think I'm going to loose control like last times Ill just hand baby over to someone else … I have learnt my lesson this time." Saturday June 22, 1996 "I watched a movie today about shizophrenia wonder if I have a mild curse of that … in my most dangerous mood, I'm not nice to be around & always want to be anywhere, but where I am. As long as it has music & men to show off to." Saturday July 21, 1996 "Depressed a little now. Probably because it will be another couple of months before I'm pregnant. Pretty sure Im not now, had or having what I think is a period -God I hope so or else these tablets will cause brain damage. Probably would be just desserts for me concidering! I truly deserve anything life throws at me so my philosophy is whatever happens, happens & its the way it shall be." Monday October 14, 1996 "Children thing still isn't happening. Thinking of forgetting the idea. Nature, fate & the man upstairs have decided I don't get a 4th chance. And rightly so I suppose. I would like to make all my mistakes & terrible thinking be corrected & mean something though. Plus Im ready to continue my family time now. Obviously I'm my father's daughter." Thursday December 4, 1996(Written when she was a couple of months' pregnant with daughter Laura) "I'm ready this time … if I have a clingy baby, then so be it. A cat napper so be it. That will be when I will ask for help & sleep whenever I can. To keep myself in a decent mood. But I've already decided if I get any feelings of jealousy or anger to much I will leave Craig & baby, rather than answer being as before … I now know that battling wills & sleep depravaision were the causes last time." One entry in her diary from January 1, 1997 when she was pregnant with Laura said: "Another year gone and what a year to come. "I have a baby on the way which means major personal sacrifice for both of us, but I feel confident about it all going well. "This time I am going to call for help, this time I'll not attempt to do everything myself any more. "I know that that was my main reason for all my stress before and stress made me do terrible things…" Tuesday February 4, 1997 "Still can't sleep. Seem to be thinking of Patrick & Sarah & Calab. Makes me seriously wonder wether I'm stupid or doing the right thing by having this baby. "My guilt of how responsible I feel for them all, haunts me, my fear of it happening again, haunts me. What scares me most will be when I'm alone with baby? How do I overcome that? Defeat that?" Monday April 28, 1997 "I think this baby deserves everything I can give her. Concidering I really gave nothing to the others. I think even my feelings towads this one are already deeper shame, but that's the way it is. I think its because Im 30 now and ready to bring up a child. Obvioslly I wasn't ready before at all." Friday July 6, 1997 "Hopefully preparing myself will mean the end of my dark moods, or at least the ability to see it coming & say to or someone hey, I'm getting overwelmed here, help me out. That will be the key to this babies survival.
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