MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - The New South Wales government has decided to grant 2 million Australian dollars (approximately $1.3 million) in compensation to Kathleen Folbigg, a woman who spent 20 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of murdering her four children. This decision was met with disapproval from Folbigg's lawyer, Rhanee Rego, who expressed that the compensation amount is "profoundly unjust" and "hugely insulting" given the circumstances surrounding Folbigg's case.
On Thursday, New South Wales Attorney-General Michael Daley announced the compensation decision without revealing the figure publicly; however, Folbigg's supporters confirmed the amount following the announcement. Daley mentioned that the decision was made after "thorough and extensive consideration" of the materials presented in Folbigg's application for compensation. He did not elaborate further on the decision.
Rego highlighted the emotional impact of the compensation amount on Folbigg, noting that it feels unjust considering the trauma she has endured. She emphasized Folbigg's loss of her four children, her wrongful imprisonment for two decades, and the stigma of being labeled as "Australia's worst female serial killer." Rego stated that her client deserves significantly more compensation and added that the case is one of the most severe wrongful conviction cases in Australian history.
In December 2023, the New South Wales Court of Appeal overturned all convictions against Folbigg, 20 years after a jury initially found her guilty of killing her children. Before this ruling, Folbigg had received a pardon from the state government, which released her from prison based on new scientific evidence suggesting that her children's deaths may have been due to natural causes, a claim Folbigg maintained throughout her trial.
The inquiry that led to Folbigg's pardon and subsequent acquittal stemmed from a petition signed by 90 scientists and medical professionals in 2021, which argued that significant new evidence had emerged indicating that the children's deaths were likely due to natural causes instead of foul play.
Folbigg's first child, Caleb, was born in 1989 and died 19 days later. Her second child, Patrick, died at 8 months old in 1991, followed by her daughter Sarah at 10 months in 1993, and her youngest daughter, Laura, at 19 months in 1999. During her trial, prosecutors accused Folbigg of having smothered her children, resulting in her conviction in 2003 on charges of three counts of murder and one of manslaughter, for which she was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Tracy Chapman, a friend of Folbigg since childhood, condemned the compensation amount, calling it "disgraceful." Following the announcement, Chapman noted that Folbigg is currently unemployed and living alone with her dog in rented accommodation in Newcastle. She expressed concern for Folbigg's mental health, stating that the trauma resulting from her wrongful conviction and the loss of her children was never adequately addressed. Chapman described Folbigg's emotional state as one of deep sadness and shock, noting that Folbigg expected such an outcome given the circumstances.
Chapman emphasized the ongoing mental health support Folbigg requires as she navigates the trauma of her past, the legal system, and adjusting to a world that has drastically changed during her imprisonment. The disheartening nature of the compensation decision underscores the challenges faced by those wrongfully convicted and the severe impact such situations have on individuals and their families.
