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Azaria dissapears from tent.
While Lindy and Michael Chamberlain with their sons are vacationing near Ayers Rock in Australia's Northern Territory, 10-week-old Azaria Chamberlain disappears from the family tent. -
Period: to
Azaria Chamberlain Case
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Jumpsuit found.
The bloody jumpsuit and singlet of Azaria is found near a boulder at the base of Ayers Rock by a tourist. -
The first coroner's inquest.
The first coroner's inquest into the death of Azaria opens. -
Azaria might have been killed by a dingo.
Coroner Barritt finds that Azaria was taken and presumably killed by a dingo (a wild dog). -
House Search
Northern Territory police search the home of the Chamberlains in Cooranbong, New South Wales -
Second inquest ordered
The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory quashes the findings of the first inquest, and orders that a second inquest into Azaria's death be held. -
Second Inquest Opens
A second coroner's inquest opens before Gerry P. Galvin. -
Possible Murder
Coroner Galvin commits Lindy Chamberlain for trial in relation to the murder of Azaria, and Michael Chamberlain on a charge of being an accessory after the fact. -
The Chamberlain trial opens
The Chamberlain trial opens in a Darwin courthouse before Justice James Muirhead. -
Case goes to Jury
The Chamberlain case goes to the jury. The jury finds Lindy guilty of murder and Michael guilty of being an accessory after the fact. Lindy is sentenced to life at hard labor, while Michael's sentence is deferred. -
Lindy is released on bail.
Lindy Chamberlain, two days after giving birth to a baby girl, is released on bail pending an appeal. -
Appeal of the Chamberlains.
The Full Bench of the Federal Court hears the appeal of the Chamberlains. -
Appeal Rejected.
The Federal Court, in a unanimous vote, rejects the Chamberlains' appeal and Lindy is returned to prison. -
Convictions to Australia's High Court.
The Chamberlains seek leave to appeal their convictions to Australia's High Court. -
Upholds the conviction of the Chamberlains.
Australia's High Court, voting 3 to 2, upholds the conviction of the Chamberlains. -
Petition Released
A petition with 131,000 signatures calling for Lindy's release and a judicial inquiry into the case is presented to the Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen. -
The book "Evil Angels" is released
"Evil Angels," a book by Melbourne barrister John Bryson, provides an in-depth look at the Chamberlain case, and suggests that they might have been wrongfully convicted. -
The Northern Territory rejects the application of the Chamberlain Innocence Committee.
The Northern Territory rejects the application of the Chamberlain Innocence Committee for a full judicial inquiry into the case. -
No early release from prision
The Northern Territory turns down Lindy Chamberlain's application for early release from prison. -
A matinee jacket discovered.
A matinee jacket matching the description of the jacket Azaria wore on the day of her disappearance in discovered at Ayers Rock. -
Lindy Chamberlain released from prision.
Lindy Chamberlain is released from prison. The Northern Territory Government announces that there will be a new inquiry into Azaria's death. -
Sixty Minutes Interviews
The American television show "Sixty Minutes" runs interviews with the Chamberlains as part of a story strongly suggesting their innocence. -
Judicial inquiry.
A judicial inquiry into the Chamberlain case opens in Darwin before Justice Trevor Morling. -
Analysing the Evidence Report.
Justice Moorling issues a 379-page report analyzing the evidence in the Chamberlain case. The report finds the evidence against the Chamberlains to be insubstantial. -
The Chamberlains to apply to the Court of Appeal to have their convictions quashed.
The Northern Territory Government enacts special legislation authorizing the Chamberlains to apply to the Court of Appeal to have their convictions quashed. -
Convictions gone.
The Northern Territory Court of Criminal Appeals unanimously quashes all convictions against Lindy and Michael Chamberlain. -
"A Cry in the Dark" (or "Evil Angels") is released.
A movie about the Chamberlain case, "A Cry in the Dark" (or "Evil Angels") starring Meryl Streep as Lindy Chamberlain, is released. -
Lindy receives compensation.
Lindy Chamberlain receives $1.3 million compensation from the government for wrongful imprisonment. -
Third cornoer's inquest
A third coroner's inquest--this one a "paper inquest"--into Azaria's death is held before Coroner John Lowndes. -
Azaria's death "cannot be determined."
Coroner Lowndes concludes that the cause of Azaria's death "cannot be determined." -
New story about Azaria's Death is released.
Melbourne pensioner Frank Cole, now 78, takes a lie detector test to prove his story that in August 1980 he shot the dingo that killed Azaria, then showed the baby's body to his companions. He passes the test, but Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton expresses doubts about his story. -
Fourth Cornoner's Inquest.
After a series of dingo attacks on humans, a fourth coroner's inquest into the death of Azaria is opened. Lindy Chamberlain expresses the hope that the inquest will both clear her name and alert the public to the fact that "dingoes are a dangerous animal." -
Final Death Certificate Issued.
Just one day after what would have been her 32nd birthday, the battle for the truth about Azaria Chamberlain's death comes to a close.
Her new death certificate has been issued stating her death was caused by a dingo attack and is in the hands of her parents.
