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Woman released from jail after 20 years after being wrongfully convicted of killing 4 of her childrenher

4 replies

cakeorwine · 14/12/2023 08:26

Wrongfully jailed for 20 years, Australia’s ‘most hated woman’ likely to receive record compensation | Australia news | The Guardian

The infamous Meadows Law was used - which was used to convict Sally Clark of the murder of 2 of her children.

Meadow's law - Wikipedia

He believed that if the chances of a child dying from cot death was 1 in 8500, then the chances of 2 dying were 1 in 8500 x 1 in 8500 - which was extremely unlikely and so the chances are they weren't cot deaths so it must have been murder.

Except if you have a rare genetic disease, this means that it's much more likely to have a child die of the same rare disease in a family if they have the same genes.

It turns out that Kathleen carries a rare genetic variation known as CALM2-G114R. It suggested there was a high chance the deaths were natural.

This should not have happened. Even if the actual cause was not known, it was known that a rare genetic disease is unlikely in the general population but if you have it, then it is likely in your children.

20 years in jail for being wrongfully convicted of killing 4 of your children.

Wrongfully jailed for 20 years, Australia’s ‘most hated woman’ likely to receive record compensation

Kathleen Folbigg was considered country’s worst female serial killer and spent two decades in jail. Now she is free and has cleared her name

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/14/wrongfully-jailed-for-20-years-australias-most-hated-woman-likely-to-receive-record-compensation

OP posts:
cakeorwine · 14/12/2023 19:34

It's scary to think this could happen - the stats have been known for ages but she was still kept inside

OP posts:
RandomMess · 14/12/2023 19:35

I think the worst thing is that the trial was completely lacking in the first place.

Heartbreaking

cakeorwine · 14/12/2023 19:44

It's just so obvious if you understand stats and genetics.

It's rare to have a rare genetic disease. (obviously)
Cot deaths can be caused by genetic diseases.
If you have a rare genetic disease that can cause genetic disease, then there is much more of a chance that your children could have this rare genetic disease.

OP posts:
user284246975787632445 · 14/12/2023 19:49

The ignorant and misogynistic way her traumatised diary entries were used against her at trial is horrific.

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