-
Azaria Chamberlain Disappears
While the Chamberlain family are vacationing near Ayers Rock in Australia's Northern Territory, 10-week-old Azaria Chamberlain disappears from the family tent. -
Jumpsuit and Singlet are found.
Azaria's bloody jumpsuit and singlet are found near a boulder at the base of Ayers Rock by an English tourist. -
Police statements given by all four Chamberlains
Police statements given by all four Chamberlains at their home in Mt. Isa. Chamberlain car searched. -
First Coroner's Inquest
The first coroner's inquest into the death of Azaria opens. -
Coroner Barritt finds that a dingo took and presumably killed Azaria Chamberlain.
Alice Springs Coroner, Denis Barritt finds that a dingo (or a wild dog) took Azaria and that no member of the Chamberlain family was responsible for her death. However, there were findings of interference with the clothing by 'person or persons unknown'. Dr Kenneth Brown requests permission to do further tests on the jumpsuit. -
Operation Ochre
'Operation Ochre'
The Chamberlain's home was searched and large quantities of items were taken by police.
At the same time, all of the eyewitnesses had police at their doors, asking for statements. When the eyewitnesses began to describe what they had seen or heard, the police told them that 'they did not want to hear anything about a dingo. This is a murder investigation.' -
The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory quashes first inquest and orders a new one.
The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory quashes the findings of the first inquest and orders that a second inquest into Azaria Chamberlain's death be held. -
Second Coroner's Inquest
A second Coroner's Inquest into the death of Azaria Chamberlain opens before Gerry P. Galvin. -
Coroner Galvin commits Lindy Chamberlain for the murder of Azaria. Michael Chamberlain is charged with being an accessory.
Second Inquest Coroner Gerry Galvin commits Lindy Chamberlain to trial on the charge of murdering Azaria.
Michael Chamberlain is charged as an accessory after the fact. This event was dubbed "Inquest by Ambush" by the media. -
Chamberlain trial opens in a Darwin courthouse before Justice James Muirhead.
Chamberlain trial begins in Darwin, Northern Territory before Judge Justice James Muirhead of the Supreme Court.
It is referred to as the "Trial of the Century". -
The Defence opens its case in the Chamberlain trial.
The Defence opens its case in the Chamberlain trial. -
The Chamberlain case goes to the jury. The jury finds Lindy guilty of murder and Michael guilty of being an accessory.
A heavily pregnant Lindy Chamberlain is found guilty of 1st Degree Murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Michael Chamberlain is charged as an accessory after the fact and receives an eighteen month suspended sentence. -
Kahlia Chamberlain born in custody.
Lindy Chamberlain givies birth to a baby girl, Kahlia, while in jail. -
Lindy Chamberlain is released on bail pending an appeal.
Lindy Chamberlain, two days after giving birth to Kahlia, is released on bail pending an appeal. -
The Full Bench of the Federal Court hears the appeal of the Chamberlains.
The Full Bench of the Federal Court hears the appeal of the Chamberlains. -
The Federal Court, in a unanimous vote, rejects the Chamberlains' appeal and Lindy is returned to prison.
Federal Court unanimously rejects appeal.
Lindy is held at Mulawa Women's Prison, then transferred to Darwin after application for bail pending High Court appeal fails.
Kahlia is sent to live with foster parents Wayne and Jenny Miller. -
The Chamberlains seek leave to appeal their convictions to Australia's High Court.
The Chamberlains seek leave to appeal their convictions to Australia's High Court. -
High Court Appeal fails in a split judgement of 2 to 3.
Australia's High Court voting 2 to 3, upholds the conviction of the Chamberlains. -
A Petition of 131,000 signatures presented to Governor-General Sir Ninian Stevens.
A petition with 131,000 signatures (later 150,000) calling for Lindy's release and a judicial inquiry into the case is presented to the Governor General, Sir Ninian Stephen. -
Application for release because of the transfer of Kahlia's foster parents.
Applied for release on licence because of the transfer of Kahlia's foster parents. Application denied. Kahlia goes to new foster parents, Dr Owen and Jan Hughes. -
"Innocence Committee" submits new evidence to the NT government and makes an application for an inquiry.
Newly formed "Innocence Committee" submits new evidence to the Northern Territory government and makes an application for an inquiry. -
"Evil Angels" Released.
"Evil Angels", a book by Melbourne barrister John Bryson, provides an in-depth look at the Chamberlain case. Suggests that they might have been wrongfully convicted. -
Northern Territory rejects the application of the Chamberlain Innocence Committee for a full judicial inquiry into the case.
The Northern Territory rejects the application of the Chamberlain Innocence Committee for a full judicial inquiry into the case. -
Northern Territory denies Lindy Chamberlain's application for early release from prison.
The Northern Territory turns down Lindy Chamberlain's application for early release from prison. -
Stuart Tipple is tipped off that matinee jacket matching the description of the jacket Azaria wore on the day of her disappearance was found at Ayers Rock.
Stuart Tipple is tipped off that the missing matinee jacket of Azaria has been found during a search for missing body parts belonging to a fallen climber at Ayers Rock.
The matinee jacket had been held at the Alice Springs Court House since January 31, 1986
Lindy Chamberlain positively identifies the jacket as Azaria's on the 5th February. -
Lindy Chamberlain is released from prison. The Northern Territory Government announces that there will be a new inquiry into Azaria's death.
Senator Bob Collins forces local reporter Frank Alcorta to check his sources. He does, and is so infuriated he writes an article for the local paper and shows it to the Northern Territory Government, threatening to print it if Lindy is not released from jail by 12 noon, or an Inquiry is called. They do both. -
American "Sixty Minutes" runs interviews with the Chamberlains.
The American version of the television show "Sixty Minutes" runs interviews with the Chamberlains as part of a story strongly suggesting their innocence. -
Judicial inquiry into the Chamberlain case opens.
A judicial inquiry into the Chamberlain case opens in Darwin before Justice Trevor Morling. -
Justice Morling issues a report analysing the evidence in the case. Chamberlain's cleared of all guilt or responsibility.
Justice Morling issues a 379 page report analysing the evidence in the Chamberlain case.
The report concluded that the evidence against the Chamberlains was insubstantial and cleared the Chamberlain's of all guilt or responsibility.
In response the Northern Territory offers them a Pardon, which still indicates guilt in Australia. -
A new act of Parliament is forced through to allow the Chamberlain's to return to court to clear their convictions.
The Northern Territory Government enacts special legislation authorizing the Chamberlains to apply to the Court of Appeal to have their convictions quashed. -
Convictions against Lindy and Michael Chamberlain dropped.
The Supreme Court of Darwin's Criminal Appeals unanimously quashes all convictions against Lindy and Michael Chamberlain and declares them totally innocent. -
Release of the film Evil Angels (A Cry in the Dark).
A movie about the Chamberlain case, Evil Angels (A Cry in the Dark) starring Meryl Streep as Lindy Chamberlain, is released. -
Chamberlain Divorce Finalised.
The Chamberlain's divorce becomes final.
Kahlia Chamberlain chooses to live with Michael and visit Lindy, Reagan stays with Lindy and visits Michael. Aidan divides his time between the two homes. -
Compensation paid to the Chamberlains by the Northern Territory Government.
Lindy Chamberlain receives $1.3 million compensation from the government for wrongful imprisonment. -
Lindy Chamberlain releases her autobiography Through My Eyes.
Lindy releases her autobiography Through My Eyes. -
Final Inquest into the death of Azaria Chamberlain.
-
Coroner Elizabeth Morris delivers her findings that Azaria Chamberlain had been taken and killed by a dingo.
Coroner Elizabeth Morris delivers her findings that Azaria Chamberlain had been taken and killed by a dingo.
An amended death certificate was issued immediately.