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Royal Commission of Inquiry into Chamberlain Convictions
A copy of the Royal Commission Report is available below. You will need to download it and read the pdf file. Royal Commission of Inquiry into Chamberlain Convictions, Report, Commonwealth Parliamentary Papers (1987), volume 15, paper 192
The Mad, the Bad and The Sad: They All Deserve Some Compassion
Prisoners are often categorised as either mad, bad or sad. What does this mean really and should compassionate treatment be available to all prisoners?
Evidence Excluding Smothering
The most important requirement in all criminal trials is that the onus of establishing guilt is to the standard of beyond reasonable doubt. This standard of proof stays immovably with the prosecution throughout a trial. In Kathleen Folbigg’s case an essential element that needed to be proved beyond reasonable doubt was that she intended to kill or cause grievous bodily harm to her children.
The prosecution said that she smothered them, but failed to prove this was the case.
Political Prosecutions: Crimes Against Democracy
Political prosecutions are commonplace in authoritarian jurisdictions but they seen more in democracies now too. Their existence is a major problem and represent a crime against democracy.
Mark Basa’s Parents Issue a Statement to the Minister
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.
Kathleen Folbigg – Granted an Unconditional Pardon
On Monday this week, the Attorney General, Michael Davies, issued an unconditional pardon and immediately released Ms Folbigg from prison. Ms Folbigg had been incarcerated for 20 years after being convicted for killing each of her four children. She has…