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Azaria Chamberlain Was Born
Azaria Chantel Loren Chamberlain was born on this day at Mount Isa, Queensland. She was the third of four children to her parents Michael Leigh Chamberlain, and his wife Alice Lynne (commonly known as Lindy). Lindy stated that the name Azaria is Hebrew and means 'blessed of God', though it was wrongly thought to mean 'sacrafice in the wilderness' after her death. -
Chamberlain Family Leave for Winter Holiday to Uluru
The Chamberlain family leave their home in Mount Isa and drive to Ayres Rock (now known as Uluru) for their winter holiday. They bring enough supplies to care for their two small children and a new born child on this camping trip. -
Azaria Goes Missing - 'A Dingo Got the Baby'
Lindy and Micheal, and one of their sons, were standing inside the campsite having a BBQ, when Micheal thought he heard a short cry from Azaria. Lindy went to check on Azaria. Lindy headed towards the campsite when she alledgedly saw a dingo running out from the tent. She went in the tent, and could see that Azaria was not there. She checked to make sure her son Regan was there, and then ran from the tent, and screamed "A Dingo's Got the Baby!" -
Searching for Azaria
Eyewitnesses confirmed Lindy's account of the nights events. Mr Chamberlain and the other campers started a search for Azaria. A head ranger was first on the scene the other rangers and him called on Aboriginal Trackers to track the dingo foot prints that were found outside the tent. They search and eventually distroyed the dingo prints. Although 300 people joined the search Azaria's Body was never found. -
Evidence- Blood Stains
Sally Lowe, another camper, had gone into the tent during the search and noticed a small pool of blood on the floor. Sally showed the head ranger the blood stained items and the ripped blankets. Police officers took the items. Polive officers handled the bloodstained clothing and didn't bother to take any photos. -
Azaria's Clothing Found
Azaria's Clothing was found amongst Boulders at the base of Ulauru, this is 4 Km for the Campsite and near some Dingo Layers. As a tourist looked on a Police officer on the scene picked up and folded the jumpsuit. The media crews reported this was how it was found. -
Statements taken
A check of the Chamberlain Family car was done and all their statements taken. All the stories including their children matched one another. -
First inquiry to the Cast Opened
The First inquiry to the case was opened in Alice Springs before the magistraite. The first inquiry heard about 6 other recent attacks by the parks "tame dingos" on mostly children. During this time the Chamberlians revieved many Rude phone calls, Death threats and even a bomb threat. -
Results Announced
The Coroner Dennis Barritt concluded that Azaria was killed by a dingo. The results were brodcasted throughout Australia where he stated "The body of Azaria was taken from the possession of the dingo, and disposed of by an unknown method, by a person or persons, name unknown." -
Period: to
A dingo ate my baby Case
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Second Investigation Opened
The second investigation was spurred on by revelations from a British scientist, who claimed that he belived that Azaria's throat had been cut. -
Chamberlian (and Eye witness) Home Raids
The Chamberlain's home is raided by police simultaneously with the homes of all other suspects and some eye-witnesses. Clothes of the Chamberlain Family were taken because they had some blood splatter on them which was not noticed before. -
The N.T. Supreme Court rejects the finding of Coroner Barritt.
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Second Inquiry Opened
A second Inquiry is Opened by the Coroner Gerry Galvin. This Qniqury sparked news headlines and started more gossip and rumors about the Chamberlian Family. -
Chamberlian Trial
Coroner Galvin takes Lindy Chamberlain for trial in relation to the murder of Azaria, and Michael Chamberlain on a charge of being an accessory. They are released on bail. -
Media Frenzy Begins
The Trial of the Chamberlain's was is Headlining news and the Media Grab is immediently. Hate towards the Chamberlain's (especially Lindy) rises. Some reasons for the dislike is that their religion - Seventh Day Adventist - was not properly understood. People did not think that Lindy was behaving how a "proper" mother should with the loss of her child. -
Rumors Begin to Spread
- Azaria was abnormal or deformed. But several doctors agreed that Azaria was a healthy, normal child.- The name ‘Azaria’ means “sacrifice in the wilderness”. It actually means “Blessed of God” or “The Lord’sHelper”- Azaria was dressed in a black sacrificial robe. Azaria did wear a black dress occasionally, because Mrs Chamberlain liked black.- A child’s coffin was found in the house. A child’s coffin was used by Pastor Chamberlain, but it was for his ‘stopsmoking’ campaigns at church.
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Trial Begins
The trial was Moved from Alice Springs to Darwin because their was belif they coudln't find an unbiaed judge. The Trial was called the trial of the century. -
Blood In The Car
Scientist Joy Kuhl claimed he identified foetal blood ( The Blood of someone under the age of 6) in 22 places of the Chamberlain's car. She had, however destroyed all the original tests and photographs of the tests before the trial. This was normal practice in the laboratory. Other scientists claimed that the blood spray pattern found under the dashboard of the Chamberlain car could have been produced by a cut in a small artery. This evidence later proved to be false. -
Could A Dingo Do It?
A point of conflict between experts was wether the Dingo could have take Azaria. Professor Cameron said that it was impossible for a dingo’s jaw to open wide enough to encompass a baby’s head. He admitted that his beliefs came from studying plaster casts of dingo jaws, and not from observation of the animals. Dr Les Harris testified that in his opinion, based on years of study of the dingo, one could have enveloped the head of child easily. -
The Chamberlain's Charged For Murder
The Case goes to Jury. Despite the Evidence people around the world still thought the Chamberlain's Guilty. The jury finds Lindy guilty of murder and Michael guilty of being an accessory after the fact. Lindy is sentenced to life in jail with hard labor, while Michael's sentence is deferred. -
Lindy Gives Birth
Lidny Chamberlain gives birth to her 4th child whilst in Custody. She Only Gets 4 hours with Kahlia before she was taken away. -
Lindy Released On Bail
Two days after giving birth to her daughter, Lindy is released on a $300 bail to appeal to the Federal Court. -
Federal Court Refusues Bail
The Federal Court, in a unanimous vote, rejects the Chamberlains' appeal and Lindy is returned to prison. -
Kahlia Given To Foster Parents
Kahlia Chamberlain goes to live with foster parents Wayne & Jenny Miller. -
Lindy Application For Bail Rejected
Lindy, after her appeal being rejected by the Federal Court, applies for an appeal at the High Court, and applies for bail whilst waiting for the pending appeal to be decided. However, the high court denies bail. -
Australian High Court Rejects Appeal
Australia's High Court, voting 3 to 2, upholds the conviction of the Chamberlains. -
Petition Presented
With doubts about the case rising, a petition of 131,000 signatures (later 150,000) calling for Lindy's release and a judicial inquiry into the case is presented to Sir Ninian Stevens, the Governor-General. -
Lindy Is Released From Jail
After Findng the Jacket Azaria was supposedly wearing at the time of the attack Lindy was Released from Jail and they announce a Royal Commission into the case—though whatever the findings she will not be returned to jail. -
Judical Inquiry Opened
A judicial inquiry into the Chamberlain case opens in Darwin before Justice Trevor Morling. -
Results
Justice Moorling issues a 379-page report analyzing the evidence in the Chamberlain case. He concludes that the Chamberlains' conviction ought not to stand. He says: "I do not think any jury could properly convict them on the evidence as it now appears. -
False Blood in the car.
The main reason that the case was overturned was because of a newly discovered fault in the prosecutions case - the foetal blood found in the car, wasn't actually foetal blood! Prof Boettcher after the trial contacted the German chemical company which made the reagent used. The company admited that that batch was faulty. Tests were made on several Holden Torana hatchbacks and it turned out that it was not blood, but infact a chemical commonly used by car manufactures. -
Convictions Quashed
The Supreme Court of Darwin unanimously quashes all convictions and declares the Chamberlain's totally innocent. -
Film Based on Case Released
The film, titled 'Evil Angels' (called 'A Cry In The Dark' when released internationally), based on the Chamberlain case, staring Meryl Streep and Sam Neil is released. -
Chamberlain Awarded Compensation
The Chamberlain Family we awarded $1.3 Million Dollars Compensation for the Wrongful imprisionment and covers approx. one quater of their legal expenses. -
Third Inquiry Opened
The Chamberlain Family wanted Azaria's death certificate to read her cause of death was being attacked by a dingo. After this request a third inquiry was opened by John Lowndes. -
Results of Third Inquiry
John Lowndes determined that Michael and Lindy were not involved in their daughters death. However he stated that ‘As to the cause of her death and the manner in which she died the evidence adduced does not enable me to say. I therefore return an open finding and record the cause and manner of death as unknown.’ This meant that there was still room for rumours and whispers that Lindy killed her. -
Fourth Inquiry into the Case Opened
After countless letters to the NT government requesting a fourth Inquiry to fix Azaria's Birth Certificate. This request was finally granted following a series of Dingo attacks in the Area. Lindy expressed the hope that the inquest will both clear her name and alert the public to the fact that "dingoes are a dangerous animal." -
Case Closed Finally
The findings of the fourth coronial inquest were finally announced on this day. The cornor annouced "Azaria Chamberlain died at Uluru, then known as Ayers Rock, on the 17th of August 1980. The cause of her death was as the result of being attacked and taken by a dingo." Her death certificate now reads this and the Chamberlain's (now divorced) expressed their relief at their names being cleared and to the end of this case of rumours, media and faulty evidence.