Azaria Chamberlain Murder Trial

Scope Note: The Azaria Chamberlain murder trial was the “trial of the century” in Australia. It seems everyone had an opinion in the matter. It began Sunday August 17, 1980, when the Chamberlain family, Michael and Lindy, with their two sons and infant daughter, were camped at the popular tourist attraction, Ayers Rock, in the Northern Territory of Australia. Just after putting the two younger children to bed there was a baby cry. Lindy went to investigate. She screamed, “A dingo took my baby.” Thus began six years of inquiry, trial, trial in the media, and rampant speculation and innuendo about what really happened.

The Northern Territory government eventually charged Michael and Lindy Chamberlain with murdering their baby, Azaria, as some type of sacrifice in the desert. Lindy was charged with murder and Michael as an accomplice in the crime. There was no body or murder weapon or even a good motive presented, but there were a lot of circumstantial evidence. The main evidence, which led to Lindy’s conviction, was forensic. Blood samples in the tent, in the car, and other places were identified as fetal blood. Cut marks on clothing were described as made by scissors. Lindy was convicted of murder and sent to jail for life. Michael was convicted as an accomplice but given a suspended sentence.

Through the various initial inquests and the subsequent murder trial, the Australian media, print and television, had a field day. The public was riveted by the story of a young mother murdering her child. Early on the public was largely favorable to the conviction of Lindy Chamberlain for murder. However, a growing number of supporters continued to question the circumstantial evidence employed and brought in other experts to rebut the scientific forensic evidence presented. Additional new evidence came to light as well as a growing body of knowledge that dingos, a large doglike creature, were known to be aggressive towards infants and children.

Over time, the move to free Lindy and the contradicted evidence as well as the new evidence led to Lindy being freed from jail. At about the same time, a Royal Commission of Inquiry began to meet where all of the original evidence was again reviewed along with all of the new evidence. In early 1987, it was found that there was reasonable doubts regarding Lindy’s guilt. She and Michael’s convictions were reversed. Later, through Lindy’s efforts, two other inquiries completely cleared her of any crime in the matter.

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