The mother at the centre of one of Australia’s most famous murder cases has spoken out for the first time.
Kathleen Folbigg, 56, spent 20 years in prison after being convicted of killing her four babies in 2003 before a scientific breakthrough saw her pardoned.
Depending on who you believe, Kathleen Folbigg is a monstrous mother who killed her children one by one over a decade. Or she's the victim of one of Australia’s largest miscarriages of justice.
The 2003 prosecution alleged Folbigg had murdered her children by smothering them during periods of frustration.
After a trial that lasted seven weeks, on May 21 2003 Folbigg was found guilty of three counts of murder, one count of manslaughter and one count of maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm.
On June 5 2023, Folbigg was pardoned after a petition signed by more than 100 scientists was published, calling for her release.
For the first time, Folgbigg has spoken out to Australian media.
When asked in a recent interview with 7News presenter Natalie Barr if Folbigg had killed her babies, she responded "A straight up no would be the answer to that, the same answer I’ve had for 20 years".
The mother of four was convicted of killing Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Laura.
Medical and scientific experts found it difficult to explain, but diary entries handed over by her husband helped put her behind bars.
No direct evidence of the crimes was ever found, but police found the diary entries suggested she might have harmed or murdered her children.
"It's pretty dangerous that we can lock people up based on suspicion and a few words written in a diary," Folbigg said in the interview.
When all hope appeared lost, a scientific breakthrough cast doubt over her guilt.
Developments in DNA testing revealed two children carried a genetic mutation that can silently kill. It was medical research that suggested the babies might have died of natural causes.
"Where did the police get it wrong?" Barr asked her during the interview.
"Being so single-minded and just not willing to investigate anything else," she responded.
However, her husband still believes she did it.
While Folbigg has been pardoned and freed from jail, she's still fighting for her convictions to be quashed and to formally prove her innocence.
