The following lecture notes relate to a presentation give to ‘the floor’ of the Sir Owen Dixon Chambers by Dr Robert Cavanagh.
The presentation used the case of Kathleen Folbigg as a case example to examine the limitations of the criminal appeal process in Australia as it relates to victims of injustice and to propose an alternative approach – creating a Criminal Case Review Commission.
A judicial enquiry into the conviction of Kathleen Folbigg was held in August 2018. The audio recordings for most of the hearings located below.
Mark Basa was convicted by a jury of murder on 3 August 2006. The conviction was for the death of Zane McCready in an emergency doorway area of the Ex-Services Club on Hanbury Street, Mayfield, Newcastle on 7 July 2005….
Fourteen academics from law faculties in universities of NSW have co-signed a letter for the Attorney General, Mr Michael Daley, to immediately release Ms Folbigg from prison pending the further steps that will be taken for her complete exoneration. The…
David Harris died in 2019 and a coronial inquest is pending. He suffered schizophrenia for most of his adult life and died alone, his body not discovered for two months. This is the story of his life.
A petition was signed on March 2 2021 and delivered to the Governor of NSW asking for the Ms Folbigg to be pardoned. The petition is presented below in full.
Mark Basa has been at the Villawood Detention Centre for several years. Without warning and in the middle of the night, he was recently taken from Villawood to Perth where he stayed for a number of weeks. Then, again in the middle of the night and without warning, he was taken in chains to Christmas Island.