Kathleen Folbigg, who endured two decades behind bars after being wrongfully convicted for the deaths of her four babies, has received an offer of A$2 million (£975,580, $1.3 million) in compensation. This amount is being criticized as inadequate for the immense suffering and injustice she has faced, marking her case as one of Australia's most notable miscarriages of justice.
In 2003, Folbigg was convicted of killing her children Caleb, Patrick, Sarah, and Laura, with prosecutors alleging she smothered them based on circumstantial evidence and personal diaries that painted a portrait of a troubled mother. However, after a significant judicial review in 2023 revealed that her children likely died from a genetic condition, she was exonerated.
Her lawyer, Rhanee Rego, has publicly denounced the compensation as "profoundly unfair" and has suggested that the figure does not take into account the duration and impact of Folbigg's wrongful imprisonment. Legal experts had anticipated a potential payout exceeding A$10 million, considering her wrongful incarceration lasted two decades.
The New South Wales Attorney General, Michael Daley, stated that the offer was the result of an "extensive" evaluation of Folbigg's case, but the decision to keep discussions confidential has sparked further criticism.
In comparison, Rego highlighted that Lindy Chamberlain, another mother wrongfully convicted, received A$1.7 million for just three years of imprisonment. Many believe that Folbigg's compensation should reflect a similar logic, resulting in a payout much higher than what she has been offered.
Experts have suggested that her compensation could surpass previous figures, with some local media speculating it could reach A$20 million, given the circumstances surrounding her false conviction and subsequent suffering.
In 2003, Folbigg was convicted of killing her children Caleb, Patrick, Sarah, and Laura, with prosecutors alleging she smothered them based on circumstantial evidence and personal diaries that painted a portrait of a troubled mother. However, after a significant judicial review in 2023 revealed that her children likely died from a genetic condition, she was exonerated.
Her lawyer, Rhanee Rego, has publicly denounced the compensation as "profoundly unfair" and has suggested that the figure does not take into account the duration and impact of Folbigg's wrongful imprisonment. Legal experts had anticipated a potential payout exceeding A$10 million, considering her wrongful incarceration lasted two decades.
The New South Wales Attorney General, Michael Daley, stated that the offer was the result of an "extensive" evaluation of Folbigg's case, but the decision to keep discussions confidential has sparked further criticism.
In comparison, Rego highlighted that Lindy Chamberlain, another mother wrongfully convicted, received A$1.7 million for just three years of imprisonment. Many believe that Folbigg's compensation should reflect a similar logic, resulting in a payout much higher than what she has been offered.
Experts have suggested that her compensation could surpass previous figures, with some local media speculating it could reach A$20 million, given the circumstances surrounding her false conviction and subsequent suffering.
