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Azaria Chamberlain is born
Azaria Chamberlain is born to a happy family. Azaria's father was a minister at the time, to a religion not many had heard of- Seventh Day Advent. Her mother was born in New Zealand. The family then was Lindy, husband Michael, and brothers Aidan and Reagan. -
Period: to
Timespan
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The search for Azaria
On the same day, they searched for Azaria. It was accused of Lindy that when they were all looking for her, she disposed of the body. No evidence of her was found on the night. Around 300 people had searched for her, including the six other camping groups. -
Lindy sees dingoes
On the night Azaria went missing (she went missing around 8:00pm), Lindy sees several dingoes and feeds on a piece of crust. Maybe the reason they came back was for more food. -
Indigenous Australians search.
Aboriginal trackers followed the dingos' pawprints and have no doubt the dingo killed the baby. A camper goes into the tent and finds a pool of blood and ripped bedding. When they were following the tracks, they found drag marks, and every now and then there was a little bump in the sand like a bundle had been set down. In the bumps there was a print of a knitted garment. -
Azaria Chamberlain goes missing.
When the family and a few other witnesses were around the campfire, they heard Azaria's cry. One witness said this was just after Lindy had left the fire and came back, another one said she heard a growl as well as a cry. Lindy came out yelling "My God, My God, a dingo has got my baby". There was blood on the tent and dingo track nearby. -
Clothing found
A photographer looking for wild flowers went on a walk near the base of Ayers Rock and found ruined clothes against a boulder. -
Statements and Car Searched
On the 1st and 2nd of October, all of the Chamberlains were interviewed, including the children. The police thought that Lindy had killed Azaria in the car, and put her in her husbands camera bag, then when they were searching she disposed of the body. In the car, there was what they thought were blood splatters. -
First Coroners Inquest
The first coroners inquest of three was started by Dennis Barritt. He started this because he thought the way the clothes had been found looked like it had been put there by a person. Someone interviewed her but failed to see her as a person with the will to kill her own child. The results came out in February, saying that the baby had been killed by a dingo but her clothing had been moved by an unknown person. -
Chamberlain's house searched and investigations.
A four and a half hour search was conducted by NT police and over three hundred items were taken from their home, including some apparently blood spattered clothes. More investigations followed. An adult handprint and blood was found around the neck of the jumpsuit, leading people to believe someone had cut her throat. -
New Inquest Ordered
The Northern Territory Surpreme Court orders a new inquest because of new evidence was found, overruling the first. This was because of the blood on their car. -
Second Inquest Opens
The second inquest is held today in front of Coroner Gerry Galvin. Lindy was questioned if there was any blood there before they left. They also thought that her jumpsuit looked more like it had been torn with scissors. -
Charges
A trial is made by the same Coroner to be held soon. Lindy's husband is also charged. There is a $5000 bail. -
Trial begins
Lindy is now pregnant as she goes into trial. Ian Barker was against Lindy, and said that the dingo story was a lie. On the for side, a camper was there. It was said that the cry definitely came from the tent and a dingo was seen coming out. The Chamberlains said that the blood culd be from a bleeding hitchhiker they picked up in 1979. At the end, the judge said "the case against the dingo should be laughed out of court,". -
Day before Verdict
Someone reminded the jury that one of the campers had heard the cry coming from the tent, and if that was true then the story involving the car must be true. Journalists left the court room that day expecting the next day she would be pronounced not guilty. -
Daughter is born
Kahlia Chamberlain is born in custody... Nine months after Lindy's birthday. This is one month after beginning her sentence in prison. -
Released On Bail
Lindy is released on bail two days after having Kahlia for $300. -
Lindy Chamberlain announced guilty.
The jury found Lindy guilty of murder and Michael guilty of being an 'accessory'. All across Australia the verdict was welcomed with approval. Lindy had a life sentence, but Michaels sentence was suspended. -
Refused Bail and Kahlia given up
Lindy is refused bail and returned to Berrimah Prison. Her appeal was rejected 3-0. After that Kahlia is given to a foster home, with both parents being in jail. -
Petitions Signed
A petition signed by 150,000 Australians is presented to the Governor-General. -
Innocence Commitee formed.
A new commitee trying to free Lindy submits new evidence to the Northern Territory government. This committee was formed because it was found that the 'blood' in the car wasn't blood, it was a mix of sound deadener, milkshake and copper dust. -
Azarias jacket found
An Englishman moved into a flat in Sydney, and then moved out again, leaving behind newspaper cuttings about Azarias disappearance. An Aboriginal couple sometime saw him walking in a trance, climbing the rocks where tourists are forbidden. This was the same week day and time Azaria vanished. He fell to his death, and policemen found his body right next to Azarias jacket, around many dingo lairs. The first bit could be myth, but a crucial mystery in this case! -
Lindy Released from Jail
With all the new evidence found, especially the jacket, mostly everyone thought she was innocent now. Local reporter angrily writes a letter for the newspaper and threatens to print it if there isn't an inquiry and Lindy is released. Lindy comes out of jail in a pink dress, gets in a limousine and goes home! -
Offered Pardon
Trevor Morling writes down all findings and demands Lindy be cleared of all guilt. The government issues a pardon, which still means guilt (for now). -
All Convictions Cleared.
All blame and guilt of Lindy and Michael Chamberlain is cleared and they start a new life. -
A cry in the Dark released.
A movie is made on the whole case so far, with Lindy being played by Meryl Streep. All of Australia picks sides and there are many arguments. -
Michael and Lindy divorced
After a long marriage, Michael and Lindy finalise their divorce. They say this was not because of the whole case, the reasons were there even before Azaria died. Kahlia lives with Michael and visits Lindy, Reagan does the opposite, and Aidan stays with them borh equally. -
Compensation.
Lindy is given $1.3 million in compensation from the government after she wrote a book 'Through my eyes' where in the final chapter it said "And now we wait, we wait for the Northern Territory to pay us what they owe.". She wrote the book in 1990. -
Lindy has full custody of Kahlia and Reagan.
Lindy is granted full custody at the request of both children. -
Results of a third Inquest
A coroner wrote that "I am unable to be reasonably satisfied that Azaria Chamberlain died accidentally as a result of being taken by a dingo.". It was also written that Lindy was an exemplary mother. -
An opera is made from the story.
An opera starts in Sydney called 'Lindy'. -
Fourth Inquiry Opened
Desperate to clear the Chamberlain name, Michael and Lindy produce fresh evidence of dingo attacks on children in front of coroner Elizabeth Morris. -
Case closed after 32 years.
The coroner made a ruling that a dingo had taken Azaria from the tent in 1980 and killed her. The Chamberlain name is cleared completely. They are given a death certificate for Azaria.
