The Australian mother who was pardoned over the deaths of her four children has broken her silence for the first time, saying she's "extremely humbled and extremely grateful".
Kathleen Folbigg, who was convicted of killing her four children in 2003, has always maintained her innocence, and on Monday the 55-year-old was pardoned by the New South Wales (NSW) Attorney-General.
She's always argued the deaths were of natural causes, but diary entries about how she was responsible for her children "leaving" her were treated as an admission of guilt and she was convicted.
It was always believed Caleb, just 19 days old, died of sudden infant death syndrome. In the case of the others, new science recently revealed that Folbigg and her two girls shared a rare genetic mutation that could silently kill.
Officials can't determine if it did kill her children, but they can't say it didn't.
And in a video shared by Folbigg on Tuesday afternoon, the 55-year-old broke her silence since being released, saying she's "extremely humbled and extremely grateful for being pardoned and released from prison".
Folbigg said her "eternal gratitude" goes to her friends and family, especially her best friend Tracy Chapman and her family.
"I would not have survived this whole ordeal without them."
Folbigg said her pardon is a "victory for science and especially truth".
"For the last 20 years I have been in prison I have forever and always think of my children, grieve for my children and have missed them and love them terribly. Thank you."
Chapman brimmed with happiness on Tuesday after she recounted sitting down for dinner with her best friend.
The Guardian reports the best friends shared pizza and garlic bread, paired with Kahlua and Coke.
"We just got to enjoy each other's company to spend a lot of time with my dogs," Chapman said.
"She slept for the first time in a real bed, had a cup of tea in a real crockery cup, real spoons to stir with. That sounds basic to you all, but she's grateful."
Though Folbigg had been dubbed Australia's worst female serial killer, Chapman said "there's no hate in her heart".
"She just wants to live her life."
Folbigg's lawyer, Rhanee Rego told Australian media the next step was to have her convictions formally cleared in the Court of Criminal Appeal.
"We urge everyone to give her privacy while she enjoys the first bit of freedom, and also she'll be honouring the memory of her children as she's done every day for 24 years."
Watch Folbigg's video statement above.
