Scissors used to kill child?

Press, 30 October 1981, Page 1

Scissors used to kill child?

NZPA SydneyForensic experts believe Azaria Chamberlain's death at Ayers Rock last August was probably caused by scissors. the Sydney “Sun” has reported. The newspaper said yesterday that a British expert. Professor James Cameron, had told Northern Territoryauthorities that the cuts and blood pattern he had examined were consistent with throat injuries caused by The “Sun" said that the

police had collected a variety of sharp objects in the Ayers Rock area five weeks ago. including knives, scissors. and machetes, for forensic experts to examine. Experts yesterday w-ere double-checking all materials previously tested, in the case, the "Sun" said.'. It said Professor Cameron had confirmed evidence, given at the inquest on Azaria Chamberlain, that her jumpsuit indicated that she must have had severe throat lacerations.

"He now reports that the cuts on the jumpsuit were caused by scissors rather than a knife or tearing,” the “Sun” said. “Professor Cameron based his findings on the amount of blood and the bleeding pattern.

“Other vital forensic evidence has been flown to London for him to test.

“The professor, a world leader in forensic medicine, has kept in constant touch with the Northern Territoryauthorities in the five weeks since the case was reopened.

"Detectives are now concentrating on the events leading up to the moments before the child died.”

Azaria Chamberlain, aged 10 weeks, disappeared from a camping area at ’ Ayers Rock on August 17 last year. Her body has not been found. At an inquest in Alice Springs earlier this year the Coroner, Mr Denis Barritt, S.M., found that she had been killed by a dingo. During the inquest, evidence was given that damage on the collar of the child's jumpsuit was consist-

ent with having been caused by a sharp instrument, possibly scissors. Sydney's other afternoon newspaper, the "Daily Mirror,” reported yesterday that forensic experts had found what they believed to be baby blood on a sharp instrument seized by police taking part in a new investigation of Azaria Chamberlain's death. The “Mirror" said detectives would not reveal who owned the instrument or where it was found.