NSW Attorney General has announced there will be an inquiry into the conviction of one of the state's most notorious killers, Kathleen Folbigg, for the deaths of her four children.
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Folbigg, 51, was found guilty by a NSW Supreme Court jury in 2003 of the murder of three of her children and the manslaughter of a fourth but has maintained they died of natural causes.
She is currently serving a minimum of 25 years behind bars.
NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman on Wednesday announced an inquiry will be held into Folbigg's convictions, to be led by Reginald Blanch QC, the former chief judge of the NSW District Court.
Mr Speakman said he carefully considered a petition for review launched by Folbigg's supportersand formed the view that an inquiry was necessary to ensure public confidence in the administration of justice.
"The petition appears to raise a doubt or question concerning evidence as to the incidence of reported deaths of three or more infants in the same family attributed to unidentified natural causes in the proceedings leading to Ms Folbigg's convictions," Mr Speakman said.
"The direction establishing the inquiry requires Mr Blanch to have particular regard to this evidence in conducting the inquiry."
The inquiry is expected to take six to 12 months to complete.
Deeper reading: The case of Kathleen Folbigg
- Barrister Robert Cavanagh criticises three-year wait for decision on petition for judicial review (August 14, 2018)
- Pressure mounts for a judicial review of Hunter mother convicted of killing her four babies (August 11, 2018)
- Kathleen Folbigg has spent 14 years in jail for killing her babies, but experts say there's real doubt over her conviction (May 17, 2017)
- Petition calls for Folbigg child murder conviction review (July 2, 2015)
- Folbigg babies 'were not murdered': Governor petitioned for judicial review (July 2, 2015)
- Kathleen Folbigg case review bid challenges SIDS evidence (October 6, 2014)
- Legal centre in push for judicial inquiry (October 25, 2013)
- Kathleen Folbigg's family says she deserves jail time (February 11, 2013)
- The crusade to free Kathleen Folbigg (Feburary 4, 2013)