Infamous baby killer Keli Lane refused parole for 1996 murder of daughter

Authorities have issued a major update for a woman convicted of murdering her baby daughter more than 15 years ago.

Convicted baby killer Keli Lane has failed in her parole bid after spending more than 13 years behind bars for the murder of her daughter Tegan.

The resounding decision marks a major test of NSW’s “no body, no parole” laws introduced two years ago,

In 2010 a jury found Lane, now 49, guilty of the newborn’s murder.

She was sentenced to a maximum of 18 years’ jail but was made eligible for parole in May this year.

Lane, a former champion water polo player, gave birth to Tegan in Sydney’s Auburn Hospital on September 12, 1996 and was discharged with her daughter two days later.

Convicted baby killer Keli Lane has been refused parole after the parole authority found she had not co-operated with locating the remains of her daughter, Tegan. Picture: 9 News

Former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Whealy determined by the time Lane had returned to her parents’ home in Fairlight that afternoon, she had murdered Tegan and disposed of her body.

Lane has maintained her innocence, insisting she gave the child to her father, a man named Andrew Norris or Morris.

“I must reject this explanation,” Justice Whealy said in his 2011 decision.

“I accept, as I am bound to do by the jury’s verdict, that the offender deliberately and intentionally caused the death of Tegan.”

NSW introduced its “no body, no parole” laws in response to the landmark murder trial of former Sydney teacher Chris Dawson, who was convicted of killing his wife Lynn 40 years ago.

Lane was jailed for 18 years after a jury found her guilty in 2010 of murdering her daughter. Picture: Supplied

Under the laws, prisoners will not be granted parole if they refuse to reveal the location of their victim’s bodies or have been found to have not co-operated satisfactorily with locating the remains of victims.

In a statement, the NSW State Parole Authority (SPA) said it was not satisfied that Lane had co-operated satisfactorily in police investigations, or other actions, to identify the location of Tegan’s remains.

“The offender has provided no information regarding Tegan’s whereabouts since being sentenced,” Parole Authority chair Geoff Bellew said.

“In the Authority’s view, the verdict of the jury, the acceptance of the Crown case and the rejection of the offender’s case which are reflected in that verdict, and the findings of the sentencing judge which are consistent with such verdict, constitute information going to the issue of the offender’s capacity to provide co-operation.”

Police interviewing Lane (centre) in 2003 over Tegan’s disappearance. Picture: Supplied

Lane’s legal team said she was “not in a position” to provide assistance to police in locating Tegan’s remains.

They told the SPA: “At this stage … (she) urges that the Authority hold a hearing to have these matters properly ventilated, and, upon setting them matter down for hearing, the offender seeks that all documentation relevant to the Authority’s consideration be provided to the offender.”

Lane had recently been moved to a transitional centre but had been sent back to prison after allegedly being found with a mobile phone. Picture: 9 News

Lane was sent back to prison over an alleged incident in late February while on day release.

It was revealed in August last year she had been moved to a transitional centre and was working at a milk processing plant.

Lane had recently been working in the community during the day but was allegedly caught with a mobile phone, which landed her in Silverwater women’s prison.

Originally published as Infamous baby killer Keli Lane refused parole for 1996 murder of daughter