THE MOMENT A 'SERIAL KILLER' WAS FREED

After two decades in prison, the woman dubbed 'Australia's worst female murderer' has been cleared

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Wrongly convicted of the deaths of her four infant children, Aussie woman Kathleen Folbigg was finally freed from jail on 5 June 2023 after years of appeals and judicial reviews.

In 2001, she had been arrested for the deaths of her kids Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Laura - who had all passed away aged between 19 days and 18 months - after her then-husband Craig found a diary in which Kathleen, now 58, blamed herself.

In 2003, she was found guilty of three counts of murder by smothering and one count of manslaughter, citing the now-discredited legal concept Meadow's law: “One sudden infant death is a tragedy, two is suspicious and three is murder, until proven otherwise.”

But subsequent scientific and medical research suggested all four deaths could be explained as the effects of very rare genetic disorders, and 20 years later, Kathleen was unconditionally pardoned.

Freed without any notice, she was taken to her good friend and longtime supporter Tracy Chapman's home to start a new life. Two years on, Kathleen and Tracy have co-written a book, Inside Out.

In this exclusive extract from her new book, Kathleen recalls the surreal day she was pardoned and freed...

As I enter the room, I have nerves, plus the whole nine yards – sweaty palms, heart beating fast and hair rising on the back of my neck. That omen-type thing. But there’s an odd atmosphere of high energy, which slightly eases my “in trouble” feeling. Sitting as instructed, I notice that the governor looks quite emotional. Is bad news coming? Has something happened to one of my friends? Or am I to be told another death in my dwindling family has occurred?

“Do you know why I’ve called you here, Kathy?” I shake my head.

The governor proceeds to tell me I have received a pardon and must be released ASAP.