Appeal to continue despite aid cut-off

Press, 27 June 1983, Page 11

Appeal to continue despite aid cut-off

NZPA Sydney Lynne Chamberlain will go ahead with her appeal in the High Court of Australia against the conviction for the murder of her daughter, Azaria, despite the Federal Government’s decision to stop legal aid to her. Russel Kranz, official spokesman for the Seventhday Adventist Church, of which Mrs Chamberlain, aged 34, and her husband, Michael, aged 38, are members, confirmed yesterday that the legal aid had been cut off. Mrs Chamberlain was convicted in October of the murder of Azaria at Ayers Rock, in the Northern Territory, on the night of August 17, 1980, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Her husband was found guilty of being an accessory to the murder and given an 18 months suspended jail sentence but was released for three years on a good behaviour bond of sAustsoo. “The Chamberlains have always steadfastly maintained their innocence,” Mr Kranz said. “They should

have access to the normal legal aid channels in establishing their innocence. They should have access to the same privileges to obtain justice as anybody else as they are just ordinary people who want to clear their names.” It is believed that legal aid was cut off to the

Chamberlains last week by the Federal Attorney-Gen-eral, Senator Gareth Evans. It is believed that the move came after the disclosure of aid, estimated at up to sAust2oo,ooo, provided for the two inquests, seven weeks trial, and three weeks appeal which have so far been conducted in the case. The amount covered expenses, fees, accommodation, and travel for lawyers and defence witnesses called. Lynne and Michael Chamberlain seek leave to appeal to the High Court against their convictions. Mr Kranz said that he could not say yet whether the Seventh-day Adventist Church would pay the High Court appeal costs but he believed the Chamberlains’ friends would help them. “There is quite a deal of disquiet in the community about the case. The Chamberlains have a lot of friends both within and outside the Church who, I would think, would rally around them.”