Convicted baby killer Kathleen Folbigg to give evidence in bid for freedom

Convicted baby killer Kathleen Folbigg will give evidence at an inquiry into her convictions as she fights for her freedom.

Folbigg, 51 appeared via video link on day one of the judicial review into whether she killed her four children Patrick, Sarah, Laura and Caleb or whether they could have died from natural causes.

“The inquiry has been notified in writing that Ms Folbigg intends to give evidence,” Counsel Assisting Gail Furness SC revealed this morning.

But the court was told she could only be questioned about her diary entries which were a key piece of evidence in her trial.

“With Sarah all I wanted was her to shut up. And one day she did,” she wrote in 1997.

“(Laura’s) a fairly good natured baby – Thank goodness, it has saved her from the fate of her siblings. I think she was warned” she said in another entry.

Folbigg was jailed for at least 25 years, a term which will expire in 2028.

The jury was told there was no authenticated record of three or more deaths attributed to unidentified natural causes in a single family.

But Ms Furness told the hearing today there had been reported cases at that time.

She said the inquiry would also look at advances in medical science, particularly in genetic testing.

Samples from the children and Ms Folbigg had all been given to a lab for testing.