Lindy Chamberlain inspecting Azaria's jumpsuit, while police look on. Far left is Superintendent Denver Marchant, who believes there was human involvement in Azaria's death
A police exhibit from the case
The front pageTHERE was definitely "human involvement" in the disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain, the detective who investigated the case has said.
Lindy Chamberlain was freed from Darwin prison after the baby's matinee jacket was found at Uluru.
Another coronial inquiry will be held next Friday.
Retired policeman Denver Marchant said the inquest was "pointless" unless evidence about the jacket was heard. He predicted a dingo would be found guilty of the murder in 1980.
"Mrs Chamberlain identified the jacket that I showed to her at the Forensic Section many years ago as being worn by the baby at the time of her disappearance," he told the NT News.
"The viewing was video-and still-photo recorded.
Lindy Chamberlain was freed from Darwin prison after the baby's matinee jacket was found at Uluru.
Another coronial inquiry will be held next Friday.
Retired policeman Denver Marchant said the inquest was "pointless" unless evidence about the jacket was heard. He predicted a dingo would be found guilty of the murder in 1980.
"Mrs Chamberlain identified the jacket that I showed to her at the Forensic Section many years ago as being worn by the baby at the time of her disappearance," he told the NT News.
"The viewing was video-and still-photo recorded.
"Revisit Mrs Chamberlain's evidence regarding the matinee jacket.
"Damage?
None on the jacket I examined in her presence.
No rips, no tears, no precise dingo scissors teeth cuts, only some stitching that had become loose with the loops intact.
"Of particular interest was the single button at the neck had the thread passing through the button hole.
The button had become detached though remained adhering to the buttonhole.
"The jacket was inside out when the package was opened for the first time at Forensic Section, again in her presence.
In a nutshell, the jacket was inside out with a button stuck to the button hole ...
"There was no damage consistent with a canine attack and it would appear the jacket was removed and turned inside out while buttoned up."
Mrs Chamberlain was released in 1986 after the jacket was found, partially buried.
Mr Marchant said "a few rough experiments" carried out by late forensics experts Joy Kuhl and Brian Nieman showed the jacket could not be removed from a doll by pulling it over the head and turning it inside out.
But that could be done if the doll had no head.
"So what happened?" Mr Marchant said.
"Don't know. Was not there. Pure conjecture.
"But perhaps the dingo while running off with the child, stopped, undid the jacket, took it off, buttoned it up again, turned it inside out, buried it and then made off ... with the child."
He said the first coroner, the late Dinny Barret, found there had been human involvement in the disappearance of Azaria.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2012/02/17/289261_ntnews.html
http://www.nma.gov.au/collections/highlights/chamberlain_trial_drawings/chamberlain_trial_drawings_slideshow?result_6095_result_page=2#slideshow-gallery
"Damage?
None on the jacket I examined in her presence.
No rips, no tears, no precise dingo scissors teeth cuts, only some stitching that had become loose with the loops intact.
"Of particular interest was the single button at the neck had the thread passing through the button hole.
The button had become detached though remained adhering to the buttonhole.
"The jacket was inside out when the package was opened for the first time at Forensic Section, again in her presence.
In a nutshell, the jacket was inside out with a button stuck to the button hole ...
"There was no damage consistent with a canine attack and it would appear the jacket was removed and turned inside out while buttoned up."
Mrs Chamberlain was released in 1986 after the jacket was found, partially buried.
Mr Marchant said "a few rough experiments" carried out by late forensics experts Joy Kuhl and Brian Nieman showed the jacket could not be removed from a doll by pulling it over the head and turning it inside out.
But that could be done if the doll had no head.
"So what happened?" Mr Marchant said.
"Don't know. Was not there. Pure conjecture.
"But perhaps the dingo while running off with the child, stopped, undid the jacket, took it off, buttoned it up again, turned it inside out, buried it and then made off ... with the child."
He said the first coroner, the late Dinny Barret, found there had been human involvement in the disappearance of Azaria.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2012/02/17/289261_ntnews.html
http://www.nma.gov.au/collections/highlights/chamberlain_trial_drawings/chamberlain_trial_drawings_slideshow?result_6095_result_page=2#slideshow-gallery
Your Say
Where is that reported comment archived?"
Tilly