New inquest into Ayers Rock death

Press, 21 November 1981, Page 1

New inquest into Ayers Rock death

NZPA Darwin A new inquest will be held into the death of a baby, Azaria Chamberlain, it was announced yesterday by the Australian 'Northern Territory’s Chief Minister, Mr Paul Evenngham. A statement issued yesterday morning said that Mr Everingham, had advised that he had applied to the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory for an order quashing the findings of the inquest into the death of Azaria Chamberlain held at Alice Springs earlier this year. “The court had made the necessary order and a new inquest would now be held beginning at the earliest possible date, probably during December.” It was believed that the application was made under a provision of the Coroner’s Act allowing the Supreme Court to order a new inquest if new facts or evidence are discovered. There is speculation that the next inquest will begin at

Alice Springs on December 14, one day short of the first anniversary of the start of the first inquest. Depending on how much evidence the Coroner finds necessary to recall, it could spill over into early next year. The first inquest resulted from what was said to be an extensive investigation which saw the collection of dozens of statements. various examinations, and partial reenactments by and for expert witnesses. The statements included accounts from people . all over Australia who were camping at Ayers Rock on the night of Sunday, August 17, 1980, when Azaria Chamberlain. aged nine weeks, disappeared. Azaria and her two elder brothers had been taken to Ayers Rock by their parents, Michael and Lindy Chamberlain. on a camping holiday. The first inquest took three weeks and at the end the Coroner, Mr Denis Barritt, found that Azaria Chamberlain had been taken by a dingo from her parents’ tent. He also found that later there was human intervention and that the body was disposed of by a person or persons unknown. A formal reopening of the police investigation into the baby's disappearance ' was announced by Mr Everingham in Darwin on September 19. It was ordered on the basis

of findings of the worldrenowned forensic scientist. Professor James Cameron, of the London Hospital Medical College, who had examined clothing worn by the baby on the night she disappeared.

No information on the investigation has been released officially by either the police or Mr Everingham's office since September 19.

There have been consistent reports that Professor Cameron found in his investigation that the baby's head was almost severed by an object such as a pair of scissors and that she was held as she bled. Until this week, Darwinbased detectives and forensic investigators have spent as much time out of the city as they have at home. All have been working under' such tight security that they have not been able to tell their families where they have been going. The Supreme Court judge who ordered the new inquest. Mr Justice Toohey, said “In support of. the, application. I have, heard evidence fromDetective Chief Superintendent Neil Plumb- relating to inquiries made and investigations carried out since the first inquest concluded. “I propose to say no more about that evidence, or to matters to which it is. related, other than it is likely that, if it is accepted, it will result in a finding that the child did not meet her death after being attacked by a dingo."