Azaria

'Dingo stole my baby' The Azaria Chamberlain case

By 718694

  • Azaria Chantel Loren Chamberlain was born.

  • Period: to

    The Important relating to the Azaria Chamberlain case.

  • 9 weeks, 4 days old, Azaria was reportedly taken from the tent at Ayer's Rock by a dingo.

  • Tourist, Wally Goodwin finds torn jumpsuit, booties, nappy & singlet but matinee jacket still missing.

  • Police statements given by all four Chamberlain's at Mt Isa, and car searched.

  • Coroner Denis Barritt finds that a wild dog or dingo killed Azaria but a 'person or person's unknown' had later interfered with her clothes.

  • Second inquest begins.

  • Azaria's mother Lindy Chamberlain is committed to trial for murder. Lindy's husband Michael Chamberlain is charged as an accessary after the fact.

  • Chamberlains' Supreme Court trial begins in Darwin. Was called the 'Trial of the century'.

  • Chamberlain's found guilty. Mrs Chamberlain, heavily pregnant at the time receives mandatory life sentence for 1st degree murder and Mr Chamberlain released with an 18-month suspended sentence.

  • Mrs Chamberlain gives birth to daughter Kahlia in custody but the baby is taken from Mrs Chamberlain at birth.

  • Chamberlain's appeal.

  • Chamberlain's appeal rejected.

  • A Petition of 131,000 signatures presented to Sir Ninian Stevens, the Governor-General.

  • Azaria's missing matinee jacket found at Ayer's Rock, supporting the Chamberlain's defence case.

  • Mrs Chamberlain finally sees the matinee jacket and positively identifies it.

  • Mrs Chamberlain is released from prison on remission.

  • A royal commission recommends clearing the Chamberlains of all guilt.

  • NT Court of Criminal Appeal quashes all convictions, declares Chamberlains innocent.

  • Lindy tells Michael she wants a divorce.

  • The Chamberlain's divorce becomes final. Kahlia chooses to live with Michael and visit Lindy, Reagan stays with Lindy and visits Michael. Aidan divides his time between the two homes.

  • Lindy meets Rick Creighton during a speaking tour of the USA.

  • NT government pays Chamberlain's $1.3 million compensation, $396,000 legal costs plus $19,000 for their car which was pulled apart for evidence.

  • Rick proposes marriage and Lindy accepts.

  • Compensation paid to the Chamberlain's by the Northern Territory government.

  • Rick and Lindy are married, and choose to live in Washington State, USA.

  • Lindy is given custody of Kahlia and Reagan, at the request of both children.

  • Coroner John Lowndes cannot determine the cause of Azaria's death and the third inquest records an open finding.

  • Lindy & Rick return with Reagan and Kahlia to live in Australia.

  • Frank Cole contacts the producers of telemovie 'Through My Eyes' and claims he shot a dingo at Ayer's Rock in 1980 and found Azaria in its jaws

  • Mr Cole goes public with his claims and says he believes his friend buried Azaria's body in Melbourne.

  • NT Police say they will investigate Mr Cole's claims.

  • The NT Coroner's office decides not to reopen the inquest into the death of Azaria, saying it is not satisfied there were new facts or evidence from the Cole investigation to reopen the inquest.

  • Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton calls for the case to finally be closed, and for an apology from the NT government.

  • Lindy releases her autobiography 'Through My Eyes'.

  • Mini series titled after Lindy's book 'Through My Eyes' is broadcast on Channel 7.