Australia · New South Wales

Kathleen Folbigg: wrongly convicted, exonerated

Convicted of Three counts of murder and one count of manslaughter in the deaths of her four infant children.

What went wrong

• Medical and scientific evidence later showed possible natural causes, including a rare CALM2 genetic variant carried by two of the children
• The court found reasonable doubt as to her guilt

From conviction to exoneration

1. 2003Convicted of three counts of murder and one of manslaughter and sentenced to 30 years.¹
2. 2021A petition from 90 scientists, medical practitioners and related professionals prompted an inquiry into the convictions.¹
3. 5 June 2023Pardoned and released from prison on the NSW Government's direction after the inquiry recommended a pardon.^1,2
4. 14 December 2023The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal quashed all four convictions.^1,2
5. July 2024Her legal team lodged an ex gratia compensation claim with the NSW Government.²
6. 7 August 2025The NSW Government offered 2 million Australian dollars, and Premier Chris Minns said her lawyers could sue if they considered it inadequate.^3,4

Compensation

An ex gratia payment of 2 million Australian dollars offered by the NSW Government in August 2025, which her solicitor called a moral affront

Today

Convictions quashed in December 2023, and she has been free since her pardon in June 2023.

Sources

1. Associated Press (via NPR, KUNC), Australian court tosses woman's 2 decade old convictions in deaths of her 4 children (14 December 2023)
2. Newcastle Herald, Kathleen Folbigg awaits compensation for wrongful conviction (14 July 2025)
3. Associated Press (via CTV News), Australian woman wrongfully convicted in deaths of her 4 children awarded US$1.3 million compensation (7 August 2025)
4. Australian Associated Press, Sue me over Folbigg compensation payment: premier (8 August 2025)