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June 11, 1980
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Azaria Chantel Loren Chamberlain born.
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August 17, 1980
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9 weeks, 4 days, approx. 10lb. (4.5kg) Azaria was taken from the tent
at Ayers Rock by a dingo
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August 24, 1980
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Wally Goodwin finds jumpsuit, booties, nappy & singlet, matinee jacket
still missing.
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October 1&2, 1980
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Police statements (ROI's) given by all four Chamberlains at Mt. Isa,
and car searched
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February 20, 1981
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Alice Springs Coroner Denis Barritt finds that a wild dog or dingo took
Azaria; that no member of the Chamberlain family was responsible for her
death, but there was interference with the clothing by 'person or persons
unknown'. Ken Brown requests permission to do further tests on the jumpsuit.
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September 20, 1981
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Operation Ochre - Chamberlain's home raided simultaneously with the homes
of all other key and some eye-witnesses.
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November 20, 1981
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Northern Territory Supreme Court (Darwin) quashes first inquest and orders
a new one.
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February 2, 1982
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Second Inquest Coroner Gerry Galvin commits Lindy Chamberlain to trial
on the charge of murdering Azaria. Michael Chamberlain is charged as an
accessory after the fact. (dubbed "Inquest by Ambush" in the
media) $5,000 bail and $5,000 surety.
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September 13, 1982
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Trial begins in Darwin, NT Judge Justice James Muirhead of the Supreme
Court presiding. Called the "Trial of the Century".
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October 29, 1982
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Lindy, heavily pregnant, is found guilty of 1st Degree Murder and sentenced
to life imprisonment. Michael, as accessory after the fact, receives an
eighteen month suspended sentence.
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November 17, 1982
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Kahlia born in custody.
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November 18 & 19
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Federal Court bail application upheld pending 1982 appeal. Decision held
overnight. $300 bail.
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April 29, 1983
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Federal Court unanimously rejects appeal. Lindy is held at Mulawa Women's
Prison, then transferred to Darwin after application for bail pending
High Court appeal fails. Kahlia goes to live with foster parents Wayne
& Jenny Miller.
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July 19 & 27, 1983
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Solicitor Stuart Tipple applies for Lindy's temporary release due to
Reagan's eye accident. Request not granted.
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February 22, 1984
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High Court Appeal fails in a split judgement of 2 to 3.
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May 3, 1984
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A Petition of 131,000 signatures (later 150,000) presented to Sir Ninian
Stevens, the Governor-General.
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November 17, 1984
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Applied for release on licence because of transfer of Kahlia's foster
parents. Application denied. Kahlia goes to new foster parents, Dr Owen
and Jan Hughes.
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June 4, 1985
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Recently formed "Innocence Committee" submits new evidence
to the NT government, and makes an application for an inquiry.
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February 3, 1986
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Stuart Tipple is tipped off that the missing matinee jacket of Azaria
has been found during a search for missing body parts belonging to a fallen
climber at Ayers Rock. The matinee jacket had been held at the Alice Springs
Court House since January 31.
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February 5, 1986
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Lindy finally sees the matinee jacket and positively identifies it.
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February 7, 1986
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Senator Bob Collins forces local reporter Frank Alcorta to check his
sources. He does, and is so infuriated he writes an article for the local
paper and shows it to the NT Government, threatening to print it if Lindy
is not released from jail by 12 noon, or an Inquiry is called. They do
both.
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June 2, 1987
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After a fourteen month Royal Commission Justice Trevor Morling hands
down his finding and clears the Chamberlain's of all guilt or responsibility.
If he had been asked he finds support for the view that Azaria was taken
by a dingo. In response the NT offers them a Pardon. (This still indicates
guilt in Australia.)
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October 21, 1987
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A new act of Parliament is forced through to allow the Chamberlain's
to return to court to clear their convictions.
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November 4, 1988
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Release of the film Evil Angels (A Cry in the Dark). It
polarises the nation.
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September 15, 1988
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The Supreme Court of Darwin quashes all convictions and declares the
Chamberlain's totally innocent. The court also adopts Morling's view that
Azaria was taken by a dingo if they had been asked.
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Jan/Feb 1990
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Lindy tells Michael she wants a divorce.
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June 27, 1991
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The Chamberlain's divorce becomes final. Kahlia chooses to live with
Michael and visit Lindy, Reagan stays with Lindy and visits Michael. Aidan
divides his time between the two homes.
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February 1992
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Lindy meets Rick Creighton during a speaking tour of the USA.
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May 19, 1992
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Rick proposes marriage; Lindy accepts.
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May 25, 1992
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Compensation paid to the Chamberlains by the Northern Territory government.
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June 8, 1992
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Lindy's engagement to Rick is announced.
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July 1992
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Kahlia asks to return to live with Lindy and custody proceedings are
started.
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December 20, 1992
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Rick and Lindy are married, and choose to live in Washington State, USA.
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April 28, 1993
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Lindy is given custody of Kahlia and Reagan (at the request of both children).
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December 13, 1995
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Findings of the Third Inquest are announced. NT Coroner John Lowndes
reiterates that neither Lindy nor Michael were in any way involved with
the disappearance of their daughter. He leaves the cause of Azaria's death
'open' however.
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August 1998
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Lindy & Rick, wishing to be closer to Lindy's ageing parents, and
to Aidan, return with Reagan and Kahlia to live in Australia.
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October 2002
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Debut of the opera Lindy with Opera Australia.
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October 2004
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Lindy releases her completely up-to-date autobiography Through My
Eyes
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November 2004
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Mini series titled after Lindy's book Through My Eyes is broadcast
on Australia's Channel 7 network.
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