Imprisoned For 20 Years For The Death Of Four Of Her Hearts, Australian Women Disadvantaged And Canceled Their Sentences

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Joe Gratz)

JAKARTA - An Australian woman who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her baby's death, was forgiven in June, her sentence was lifted on Thursday, planning to seek compensation.

folbigg was sentenced to twenty years in prison, related to the deaths of four of his children. The sentence was imposed in 2023.

He was convicted of killing three of his children and committing accidental murder of the death of his fourth child.

Folbig is adamant that he is innocent and says the children died of natural causes for more than a decade ago, between 1989-1999.

In 2019, the initials inquiry over the case reaffirmed Folbigg's error. But in 2022, a second inquiry led by a former chief judge found new evidence indicating that Folbigg's two children had genetic mutations that might lead to their deaths.

Folbigg was released from prison in June this year after being forgiven. Today, his sentence was canceled by the State of New South Wales.

"I am grateful that the latest science and genetics have given me an answer about how my children died," Folbigg said emotionally to reporters outside the criminal appeals court in Sydney.

"However, even in 1999, we had a legal answer to prove my innocence. The answer was ignored. And ignored," he said.

"The system prefers to blame me rather than accept that sometimes children can and indeed die suddenly, unexpectedly, unexpectedly, and heartbreakingly," he said.

Meanwhile, Folbigg's lawyer, Rhanee Rego, said his legal team was preparing a "big" compensation charge for his client's imprisonment.

"I'm not ready to mention the numbers yet, but the numbers will be bigger than the substantial payments that have been made before," said Rego.

The case, which relies mostly on indirect evidence, has caused controversy among scientists and statisticians, some of whom are part of a campaign to ensure Folbigg's release.

"Despite new scientific evidence (in 2019), basic scientific principles have not been adhered to since the trial was carried out," said Anna-Maria Arabia, chief executive of the Australian Academy of Sciences.

"Make no mistake, without legal reforms, injustices like this will continue," he said.