More experts join call for pardon of Kathleen Folbigg over the deaths of her children

Sixty-six Royal Society of NSW fellows have joined a growing body of scientists calling for the pardon and release of Kathleen Folbigg.

Kathleen Folbigg appearing via video link during a convictions inquiry at the NSW Coroners Court in 2019. Picture: AAP

Sixty-six Royal Society of NSW fellows have joined a growing body of scientists calling for the pardon and release of Kathleen Folbigg, who is serving a 30-year prison sentence for the murder of three of her children, and the manslaughter of a fourth.

The fellows, led by society president Ian Sloan, have signed a letter to NSW Governor Margaret Beazley and Attorney-General Mark Speakman backing an earlier petition lodged on Folbigg’s behalf in early March.

In November, a peer-reviewed paper written by 27 scientists from across the world concluded that a genetic mutation, CALM2 G114R, had “likely” triggered the deaths of Folbigg’s daughters, Sarah and Laura. The letter signed by 66 scientists, which was sent to the NSW Governor late last week, says “newly analysed genetic data provides clear evidence of a lethal gene mutation in two children, with a second rare gene defect in the two boys”.

Immunologist Robert Clancy said the list of signatories “includes scientists across a width of scientific disciplines, from most of the academic institutions in NSW” including Elizabeth Blackburn, a Nobel Laureate who is a world expert in genetic biology.

Professor Blackburn said: “I fervently hope that this will be a case in which science can bring justice.”

Other distinguished fellows who have endorsed the submission are biologist Michael Archer, one-time health minister and former Australian National University chancellor Peter Baume, and Eugenie Lumbers, an authority on foetal and maternal physiology. It comes after News Corp Australia revealed an earlier petition signed by 90 scientists had been lodged with the Governor.

The petition is being considered by Mr Speakman.

The petition’s signatories included Professor Blackburn and fellow Nobel laureate Peter Doherty, as well as two former chief scientists. In all, 150 scientists and medical experts have lent their support to calls for Folbigg’s pardon and release.

In late March, Folbigg lost an appeal to overturn the findings of an inquiry into her convictions that was held in 2019.

That same day, the Australian Academy of Science issued a statement strongly challenging the scientific assessments made by the three appeal court judges.

The academy said: “There are medical and scientific explan­ations for the death of each of Kathleen Folbigg’s children.

It added: “The appeal reviewed the legal processes undertaken by the inquiry but did not consider an assessment of the scientific ­evidence available since the ­inquiry.”

Academy president John Shine said: “It is deeply concerning that there is not a mechanism to appropriately weigh up all medical and scientific evidence in a case of this nature.”

Professor Sloan, a mathematician, has now added his voice to the growing calls for Folbigg’s pardon and release.