Lawyer for Kathleen Folbigg’s ex-husband Craig says he was ‘dismayed’ by inquiry

Kathleen Folbigg’s ex-husband Craig, who gave evidence against her, was “absolutely dismayed and devastated” that there was a further inquiry, according to his lawyer.

Kathleen Folbigg’s former husband is critical of the outcome of the pardon, according to his solicitor.

Craig Folbigg “has not changed his view,” his solicitor Danny Eid said on Monday.

While Mr Folbigg has never publicly spoken about the case since his ex-wife’s conviction, he “continues to suffer”,” Mr Eid said.

“Like any reasonable parent after losing his children, if he was not feeling shattered you would not be normal.”

Mr Folbigg refused to be involved in the latest inquiry.

Laura Folbigg with her father Craig at her 1st birthday party.

He declined to provide a DNA sample for scientists who were examining the genetic sequencing and he has not attended any of the hearings which again raked over the tragic deaths of his young children.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST:

During the inquiry, Mr Eid said Craig had endured 20 years of hell.

“He is frustrated and disappointed he has to endure yet another chapter,” he said.

“This is a man people say will heal over time. But with all this time the wounds continue to bleed for him.

“As you can imagine losing four children in those circumstances, closure is so important for him and his family.

“With 20 years of repeated attempts to try and overturn the conviction and multiple inquiries by the state’s greatest legal minds — the wound can never heal.”

Mr Eid said Mr Folbigg has been forgotten. “He is the victim in this case.”

Mr Eid said twice the Court of Criminal Appeal has rejected Kathleen’s appeals and the High Court had refused leave to appeal a judicial review upheld her conviction.

Kathleen and Craig Folbigg in 1999 as they prepare to attend a ball only four months after the death of fourth child Laura. He began to fear the worst after Laura’s death.

Kathleen Folbigg was dubbed Australia’s worst serial child killer after being convicted of the murder of three of their children, Patrick, Sarah, and Laura and the manslaughter of a fourth child, Caleb.

Mr Folbigg provided some of Ms Folbigg’s diaries to police and gave evidence against her at her trial.

He told the court he found it difficult to suspect his wife until he found her diary.

Craig Folbigg leaves the Supreme Court in Sydney in 2003 after a trial jury found his estranged wife Kathleen guilty. Picture: Craig Greenhill.

It was not until after the couple separated following the death of their fourth child Laura in March 1999 that he began to fear the worst.

He went to Singleton police, who began an investigation that led to Folbigg being charged over the deaths of her four children – Caleb, aged 19 days, Patrick, 8 months, 11-month-old Sarah and Laura, 19 months.

Listen to the Mother’s Guilt podcast on Kathleen Folbigg’s case:

FOLBIGG’S CLOSEST FRIENDS SPEAK

There has never been any doubt in Tracy Chapman’s mind that Kathleen Folbigg is innocent.

She spoke most days with Folbigg, one friend living her life in freedom, the other serving a life sentence.

They were childhood friends, and Ms Chapman visited her in prison weekly. Folbigg’s claims of innocence never changed, and neither did Ms Chapman’s belief in her.

One thing the pair talked about on the phone was about religion and Folbigg’s faith.

Tracy Chapman always believed in Kathleen Folbigg’s innocence. Picture: Deb Novak

“She made a beautiful comment about how her faith allows her to feel that her children are up there in heaven with other family that have passed and they’re safe, happy and well cared for … It gives her comfort to know they’re somewhere safe, even though it hurts terribly, not to have seen them go through school, not to see what they might have chosen as a profession, who they might have married and how it might have been to be a nan,” Ms Chapman told The Daily Telegraph.

The petition that electrified the case and led to the new inquiry had given Folbigg hope.

“Kathleen said that it’s not just about her case anymore, it’s for all mother’s, all parents, so that this never happens to another woman or family again,” Ms Chapman told AAP.

“It’s nearly 18 years since she was first convicted but even if this attempt isn’t successful, we’ll keep fighting, because the truth never lies.”

Karren Hallwas babysitting Laura Folbigg when she had to perform CPR on the child when she discovered her with a “deathly grey colour, she just looked lifeless”.

It was eight months before Laura would die, but supporters of Folbigg believe the little girl likely had an acute cardiac arrhythmia, as a result of the a mutation on a gene linked to cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.

Karren Hall had to perform CPR on Laura Folbigg eight months before she died. Picture: Sue Graham

Ms Hall revived her, and gave evidence as a witness – but she never doubted her friend.

“I’m not a scientist or a doctor but, boy, am I grateful for the scientists now,” Ms Hall said.

“There was something not right, they had not figured it out the, and when that came through with that gene, it was a weight lifted off my shoulders. I knew it,” she told News Corp.

“I told people she didn’t do this. I’ve been adamant for the last 20 years that she didn’t do that.”

Megan Doneganmet Folbigg when they were both Year 7 students at Newcastle’s Kotara High School in the 1980s.

Megan Donegan has stood by friend Kathleen Folbigg. Picture: Sue Graham

She has fond memories of her “fun, but reserved” friend and they are in regular contact.

“She didn‘t like to show emotions in front of many people,” she said.

Ms Donegan is a staunch supporter of Folbigg, and watched her friend’s stoicism be seen as cold and calculating during her murder trial.

“I spent too much time with her. I saw her with her babies. I saw her cry. Even though people say she didn‘t cry, I saw it. She can’t cry in front of other people,” she said.

Originally published as Lawyer for Kathleen Folbigg’s ex-husband Craig says he was ‘dismayed’ by inquiry