Serial killer Kathleen Folbigg has become prison den mother to child offenders behind bars

LETTERS from women inside a protected wing of one of our worst jails reveal who’s in charge and what really goes on.

CHILD serial killer Kathleen Folbigg is playing den mother to some of Australia’s most depraved female child killers inside women’s maximum security, new documents reveal.

Folbigg, who is serving 30 years behind bars for killing her four infant children, teaches “life skills” and acts as a “positive role model” to some of the worst female offenders in prison.

Documents written by inmates inside the Silverwater Women’s Maximum security jail and obtained by news.com.au reveal Folbigg counselled high risk female baby murderers and rapists.

The women counselled by Folbigg live — for their own safety from other inmates — under strict segregation inside Silverwater Women’s Willet East protection wing.

One inmate counselled by Folbigg is facing life behind bars for filming herself sexually and indecently assaulting her own three children and uploading the video to a child pornography site.

The woman, who cannot be named, wrote from inside prison that “Kathleen has had a huge [effect] on me and taught me to come out of my comfort zone and made me feel like an important and wanted woman”.

Another female child killer wrote Folbigg was “a positive role model” for other women criminals in the Willet unit.

Kathleen Folbigg, during court hearings, acts as a den mother for female baby killers and rapists inside maximum security women’s prison.

Women inmates inside Mulawa prison where the Willet protection unit for female killers and child rapists is located. Picture: SBS-TV.

In jail Folbigg’s now greying dark hair has returned to this tight-curled style she wore during her 2003 trial. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Kathleen Folbigg with third baby Sarah.

Folbigg has helped fellow women killers in prison.

The inmate, who has pleaded guilty to 26 offences, including counts of sexual intercourse with a person under 10 years, wrote that before meeting Folbigg “I suffered self-esteem issuse [sic]”.

In a letter dated May 25 this year, the incarcerated child offender wrote that after knowing Folbigg for more than a year in prison she felt better about herself.

“After many conversations with Kathleen, my thoughts and feelings have changed for the better.” The NSW mother of three is due to be sentenced later this year for multiple counts of using a child under 14 to make child abuse material, inciting an indecent act on a person under 16 knowing it was being filmed, and producing or disseminating child abuse material.

The female inmate wrote, “Thanks to Ms Folbigg she allowed me to improve my life and I am a stronger woman today and that will better my future”.

That inmate and another woman, who was convicted of murdering her own child,

described how Folbigg had not only helped them but other women in the Willet East unit.

A former governor outside Mulawa women's prison, which is now called Silverwater Women’s, holds female killers in a protection wing.

Folbigg letter written by baby killer.

Letter by woman who abused and filmed her children.

Since bashing a female inmate, Folbigg has been moved to a women’s unit inside Cessnock prison (above).

Folbigg, who killed children (from left) Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Laura, gives women killers and rapists ‘words of wisdom and confidence’ behind bars.

The two women wrote the glowing references for Folbigg in an effort for the serial killer to escape sentence for bashing another female offender inside the Willet east wing.

In Newcastle District Court on Wednesday, Judge Tanya Bright said both women inmates had received “significant assistance” from Folbigg in prison.

Addressing the court during Folbigg’s appeal over the jail bashing, she said the women inmates “each speak of the impact of the appellant’s support of them while in custody”.

The second woman, who said she had known Folbigg for the 14 years since her incarceration, said the serial killer had “blossomed” in prison.

“I have had the opportunity to understand Ms Folbigg’s behaviour and the amazing changes she has made throughout this journey,” the inmate wrote in a letter dated May 24 this year.

The murderer said Folbigg “has blossomed into a confident” woman with “self reliance ... who will achieve anything put in front of her”.

A fellow female baby killer says Folbigg has ‘blossomed’ in prison and is a ‘role model’ for other serious female offenders. Picture: Craig Greenhill

Extract from Kathleen Folbigg’s trial in 1997 used in her murder trial in which she writes of ‘my secrets’.

Serving 20 years for child murder, the inmate said that inside prison, “Ms Folbigg has shown her vunerable [sic] side and her strong side”.

The woman’s letter was tendered in court during a hearing in which Folbigg appeared via audio visual link from prison.

The quadruple killer, whose earliest possible release date in 2028, wore dark eye makeup and had her slightly greying dark hair cut in close curls to her head.

She appeared relaxed and confident and answered the judge’s question in a strong, clear voice, smiling occasionally, and saying “Yes, your honour” three times.

The female killer writing the second reference said: “Kathleen has helped women adapt to their new surroundings and help them achieve their goals for their future!

“Ms Folbigg has always given the women words of wisdom and knowledge to help them progress.

“Ms Folbigg is known to be a positive role model towards others, and I am honoured to have met and know Ms Folbigg on a personal level.”

Kathleen Folbigg at court with a Salvation Army officer during her trial for killing her four children. Picture: Stephen Cooper

One of the women (above) who wrote a glowing reference for Kathleen Folbigg said she was a ‘positive role model’ for other female criminals.

Kathleen Folbigg, pictured with former husband Craig and daughter Laura, who died in 1999, has hopes pinned on a petition to the NSW Governor.

The women living in the Willet East unit are among several of Australia’s worst female criminals who have offended against children.

Serious women offenders who have spent time in Silverwater Women’s maximum security include baby killers Keli Lane, Kristi Ann Abrahams and Rachel Pfitzner.

None of these women wrote the references for Kathleen Folbigg.

But like Folbigg herself and the women who wrote her references, all three have offended against their own children.

Another woman who has spent time in protection behind bars inside Silverwater Women’s is the mother known as ‘SW’, who starved her child to death on the NSW Central Coast.

Australia’s worst female killer, cannibal Katherine Knight, who skinned her de facto and boiled up his body parts for dinner, is also housed in Willet.

Folbigg’s quest to help other violent female child offenders will now have to continue away from the Willet East protection unit.

Kathleen Folbigg swimming with daughter Laura whose death, a new petition attests, should not be ruled as homicide.

Folbigg has ‘blossomed’ in jail. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Folbigg hasn’t aged much in 14 years. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Folbigg's 1997 diary entry in which she writes about her third child, daughter Sarah, who died aged 10 months in 1993.

Following the alleged jail bashing in April, Folbigg was transferred to Cessnock Maximum Security Correctional Centre which has a women’s section as well as a transgender unit.

Folbigg, who killed her two male and two female children between 1989 and 1999, “snapped” inside Willet on April 21 this year after being taunted about her crimes.

Police facts say Folbigg punched maximum security protection inmate Tara Mammen after seeing her emerge from a cell carrying a toaster.

Folbigg said: “You’re not allowed to take the f***ing toaster in the room”.

Mammen said: “Well I don’t know that, don’t tell me what to do ... what are you going to do about it?”

Whereupon, Folbigg punched her in the stomach and Mammen punched her back, clipping Folbigg’s ear.

Mammen then said: “We all know why you are in here”.

An inmate inside a cell in Silverwater Correctional Centre, where serious women offenders are held in protection in the female jail. Picture: Adam Taylor

Folbigg, above with her then husband Craig and baby Sarah at the child’s naming ceremony, has a petition to the NSW Governor for a review of her case.

Folbigg has taught inmates ‘the rules’ inside.

Baby Patrick Folbigg died at eight months.

Judge Tanya Bright told Newcastle District Court on Wednesday that she accepted Folbigg had an “exemplary record” in prison, but that she had a very long way to go until her maximum sentence expired in 2033.

Refusing Folbigg’s application for a Section 10 bond, Judge Bright said the offence “was at the lower end but it occurred in a custodial environment and any assault in custody has the potential to escalate and destabilise the whole environment”.

Folbigg’s lawyer said the assault had occurred while her client was under stress.

A petition for a judicial review of Folbigg’s case to the NSW Governor is currently before the NSW Attorney-General.

In the petition, lawyers claim Folbigg's case was marred by unreliable, misleading and outdated medical evidence

Folbigg was convicted of murdering three of her children and the manslaughter of a fourth between 1989 and 1999 in a case based on circumstantial evidence.

Folbigg’s supporters, three of whom tendered character references to the court alongside those of the women inmates in the prison bashing case, believe she may have been denied justice.

In the petition to NSW Governor David Hurley, Monash University Forensic Pathology Professor Stephen Cordner writes: “If the convictions in this case are to stand, I want to clearly state there is no pathological or medical basis for concluding homicide”.

On Wednesday, Judge Bright suppressed the identities of all five referees for Folbigg, and made non publication orders on any information which may identify them.

Folbigg with then husband Craig Folbigg in 1999, four years before her murder trial.

INMATE LETTERS FOR KATHLEEN FOLBIGG

Woman inmate inside an old wing of Silverwater Women’s when it was called Mulawa Prison. Picture: David Hill.

LETTER 1

25-5-17

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

I [name suppressed] am currently residing at Silverwater Womens CC. I have known Kathleen Folbigg for approximately [several months]and during this time Kathleen has shared her knowledge regarding the rules and life skills required while I am here.

Kathleen has had a huge [sic] on me and taught me to come out of my comfort zone and made me feel like an important and wanted woman. I suffered self-esteem issuse [sic] but after many conversations with Kathleen, my thoughts and feelings have changed for the better. Thanks to Ms Folbigg she allowed me to improve my life and I am a stronger woman today and that will better my future. Ms Folbigg has been a role modle [sic] for me and for others, I wish her all the best

Regards,

[name suppressed]

Aerial view of Silverwater Women’s prison which houses the state’s maximum security female inmates.

LETTER 2

24.5.17

Character reference

c/c Ms Kathleen Folbigg

To Whom This May Concern,

I [name suppressed] know inmate Ms Kathleen Folbigg who currently is incarcerated with me at Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre. I have known inmate Ms Folbigg now for approximately 14 years. I have had the opportunity to understand Ms Folbigg’s behaviour and the amazing changes she has made throughout this journey. Ms Folbigg has shown her vulnerable side and her strong side. Kathleen has helped women adapt to their new surroundings and help them achieve their goals for their future! Ms Folbigg has always given the women words of wisdom and knowledge to help them progress. Ms Folbigg has blossomed into a confident and has self reliance woman who will achieve anything put in front of her. Ms Folbigg is known to be a positive role model towards others, and I am honoured to have met and know Ms Folbigg on a personal level. I wish her all the best for her future.

Regards

[name suppressed]