Australia dingo-baby mystery back in court

Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton arrives at Darwin Magistrates Court for the first day of the fourth inquest into the disappearance of her daughter, Azaria Chamberlain, more than 30 years ago, Feb. 24, 2012 in Darwin, Australia. / Getty

SYDNEY - A coroner on Friday opened Australia's fourth inquest into the most notorious and bitterly controversial legal drama in the nation's history: the 1980 death of a 9-week-old baby whose parents say was taken by a dingo from her tent in the Australian Outback.

Azaria Chamberlain's mother, Lindy, was convicted and later cleared of murdering her and has always maintained that a wild dog took the baby. She and her ex-husband, Michael Chamberlain, are hoping fresh evidence they have gathered about dingo attacks on children will convince Northern Territory Coroner Elizabeth Morris and end relentless speculation that has followed them for 32 years.

Anne Lade, a former police officer hired by the court to investigate the case, told a packed courtroom that in the years since Azaria disappeared, there have been numerous dingo attacks on humans, some of them fatal. Rex Wild, a lawyer assisting the coroner, described several of the attacks and said he believed the evidence showed that a dingo could have been responsible for Azaria's death.

"Although it (a dingo killing a child) may have been regarded as unlikely in 1980 ... it shouldn't be by 2011-12," he said. "With the additional evidence in my submission, your honor should accept on the balance of probabilities that the dingo theory is the correct one."

Morris adjourned the hearing without issuing a decision, and did not say when she would release her findings.

Azaria's death certificate still lists her cause of death as "unknown." The Chamberlains say they want to set the record straight on behalf of their daughter.

"It gives me hope this time that Australians will finally be warned and realize that dingoes are a dangerous animal," Lindy said outside the courthouse in the Northern Territory capital, Darwin. "I also hope that this will give a final finding which closes the inquest into my daughter's death, which so far has been standing open and unfinished."

Azaria vanished from her tent in the Outback on Aug. 17, 1980, during a family vacation to Ayers Rock, the giant red monolith now known by its Aboriginal name Uluru. Fellow campers told police they heard a low growl followed by a baby's cry shortly before Lindy — who had been making dinner at a nearby barbecue area — went to check on her daughter.

Lindy said she saw a dingo run from the tent and disappear into the darkness. There were dingo prints outside the tent, and spots of blood on the bedding inside. Upon seeing Azaria's empty bassinet, Lindy screamed, "The dingo's got my baby!" — a line made famous by the Meryl Streep movie, "A Cry in the Dark," based on the case.

Azaria's body was never found, though her torn and bloodied jumpsuit turned up in the surrounding desert.

Officials, doubtful that a dingo was strong enough to drag away a baby, charged Lindy with murder. Prosecutors said she slit Azaria's throat in the family car — which initial forensic tests said was splashed with baby's blood — and buried her in the desert. Lindy was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Years later, more sophisticated tests found that the "blood" in the car was a combination of milk and a chemical sprayed during manufacture. Three years into Lindy's prison sentence, a jacket Azaria had been wearing was found by chance near a dingo den. Lindy was released from prison and her conviction was overturned.

Still, three separate coroner's inquests have failed to agree on a cause of death for Azaria. The last inquest, held in 1995, returned an inconclusive finding, with the coroner saying there was not enough evidence to prove a dingo was responsible.

Since then, the Chamberlains have gathered new evidence of around a dozen dingo attacks on children, three of them fatal, said their lawyer, Stuart Tipple. That evidence was presented to Morris, the coroner, for consideration at Friday's inquest.

"When you actually look at what has already been given, and you consider the new evidence, we say you are compelled to make a finding that Azaria was taken by a dingo," Tipple told The Associated Press.

In court, Michael Chamberlain fought back tears as he spoke of the nightmarish aftermath of his daughter's death.

"Since the loss of Azaria I have had an abiding fear and paranoia about safety around dingoes," he said. "They send a shudder up my spine. It is a hell I have to endure."

Australians have followed the case closely since it began, and most have strong opinions. Although public support for Lindy has grown over the years, many still doubt that a dingo could have killed Azaria.

"I think that the people that don't think for themselves aren't ever going to be convinced, and it really doesn't matter what you show them," Tipple told the AP. "I could show them a video of the dingo taking the baby and it wouldn't convince them — because they've made their mind up."

[northof62]

While holding my newborn, I was about to walk from my truck parked on the street at my home when two husky dogs ran towards me. They stopped and went into pre-attack mode- hair at neck raised, heads down,eyes on me and low growls. Had I not been calm slowly backing up and getting back into the truck, I have no doubt what they would have done. Jumped me and taken my son, should I not been able to hold him. Once we were safely in the truck, I went directly to the police to report the experience.

A full-growwn woman was killed by coyotes a couple of years ago. Trappers say to watch all kids too young to fight back.

That a Dingo grabbed a child doesn't surprise any experienced person of the land. It might have been old, injured or starving to take a childd from a camp but it is not unheard of.

[Weazerdogg]

I still can't fathom why it is so hard for Australians to believe. It has been stated that a dingo can be 40-60 lbs. The baby was supposedly around 10 lbs and in the original trial someone said that a dingo couldn't have carried off a 10 lb baby. Well, I've owned dogs all my life and I can say without a doubt that if I put a 10 lb piece of meat in front of one of my 40-60 lb dogs it would have no problem carrying it off and eating it! Seems some Australians think a little to highly of what is a wild animal.

[VA_Jill]

Why are they even bothering? Because some hotshot prosecutor wants to "make a name" for him/herself? Dingos are dangerous and yes, they are quite capable of snatching a tiny baby and killing it. Like North American coyotes, they are losing their fear of humans.

[Jaylah54]

nadelio, do you stand there staring at your baby in its crib 24/7? (Obviously not, or you wouldn't be able to post here.)

This happened at a recognized camp-ground with other campers all around. The baby was asleep in her cot, the mother was just a couple of dozen feet away at the barbeque area, and the rest of her children were playing at their campsite. In fact, it was Azaria's brother who first raised the alarm by crying out, "A dingo's got our baby!"

It wasn't like the baby was asleep in a tent 50 yards away from anybody.

[PourpaixPourpaix]

What a nightmare. Dingo snatches the kid, the cops snatch you and throw you in prison for a heinous crime you'd never commit. Wonder why the authorities wouldn't listen to reason? My son spent some time in Australia studying. After a lot of research, one policy seemed evident. If it moves, and it is not human, better to kill it before it kills you.

[CarrollFamily]

Nadelio, do you mean taking the child camping with them? How absurd to think one shouldn't go camping with a young child.

[caljack430]

The implied logic of previous 'specialists' here is ridiculous. There isn't enough proof that a dingo took her... but where is the proof that the mother killed her!? From this brief article... it sure looks like the mother reacted better than Casey Anthony did when her child mysteriously disappeared... and America has certainly seen how well a circumstantial evidence case holds up... come on Australia, find some evidence or give the woman a break and let her live her life.

[wlhoppers]

Well said.

[PepeLePirate]

The dingo ate my baby!

[wlhoppers]

Stupid.

[catwoman1952]

very stupid, go away and shut your trap

[AnnieDanny]

I have had a lot of sympathy for this family all along. It does seem as if every couch potato had an opinion. And even here in the USA we've heard of fatal dingo attacks. I remember a chilling account where a child faced a dingo alone in order to protect her baby sister: and this happened right in their own motel room. The dingo came in through an open glass door: it was a pleasant day and the place was a nature type area.

I agree with the article: some people will never be convinced. I think this phenomenon has been true of the Amanda Knox case. It hit the tabloids and people are determined to believe the junk that was printed, even tho the Italian appeals court overturned the conviction.

C'mon people: be more intelligent than this! The Chamberlain family does not deserve to live under this cloud if they truly lost their baby because of a wild animal, which is very likely the absolute truth. They deserve our sympathy and respect for how they have withstood this agony all these years.