The Chamberlain Case
Australian baby Azaria Chamberlain was nine-weeks old baby girl when she was was killed by a dingo on the night of 17 August 1980, on a family camping trip to Uluru in the Northern Territory. Her body was never found. Her mother Lindy Chamberlain was tried and convicted of her murder and spent more than three years in prison before an inquest was open into the case after a piece of Azaria's clothing was found at the mouth of a dingo's lair. It took a further 29 years for the coroner to support the Chamberlain's claims that a dingo took their baby.
Resource Key
When accessing content use the numbers below to guide you:
brief, basic information laid out in an easy-to-read format. May use informal language. (Includes most news articles)
provides additional background information and further reading. Introduces some subject-specific language.
lengthy, detailed information. Frequently uses technical/subject-specific language. (Includes most analytical articles)
Databases
Useful Website links
* Famous trials : The Lindy and Michael Chamberlain ("Dingo") trial 1982
* Chamberlain case - timeline of events
A timeline of events from the case, from the date of Azaria's birth in 1980 to the Coroner's findings in 2012
* The Chamberlain Story
A short overview of the Chamberlain case
* The Morling Report - May 22, 1987
Discusses the evidence in the Chamberlain case, following the third coroner's inquest into the death of Azaria Chamberlain
*Forensic findings
Discusses the use of forensic evidence in the trial
* Azaria Chamberlain inquest: forget the dingo jokes and recognise Lindy’s trauma
Article from 2012
* Why did this happen?
The Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton website
* Legal Process and Findings
The Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton website
* Scientific evidence as circumstantial evidence
Excerpt from the book Expert Evidence: Law, Practice and Procedure (2nd Edition), discussing the Chamberlain case
* Video: Dingo Decision
2012 video from Behind the News
* AFP Forensics recruits get rare access to Chamberlain collection
Azaria by
What happens when the truth gets lost? Where wild animals and people meet, tragedy can strike. But when a tiny baby is stolen by a dingo, people simply cannot accept such a thing. Prejudice and gossip grip the nation, and the tragedy transforms into a fight for the truth. This is a true Australian story of innocence, ignorance, and the perils of mob thinking.
Lindy Chamberlain exclusive: video
Lindy Chamberlain with Lisa Wilkinson: video
References
Australian Federal Police (n.d.). AFP Forensics recruits get rare access to Chamberlain collection. https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/platypus/afp-forensics-recruits-get-rare-access-chamberlain-collection
Behind the News. (2012, June 19). Dingo decision. https://www.abc.net.au/btn/classroom/dingo-decision/10532368?jwsource=cl
Bendall, C. (Executive Producer). (2020). Lindy Chamberlain [Video]. ClickView. https://clickv.ie/w/XGQs
Freckleton, I., & Selby, H. (n.d.). Scientific evidence as circumstancial evidence. https://www.findlaw.com.au/articles/285/scientific-evidence-as-circumstantial-evidence.aspx#:~:text=Thus%20in%20Chamberlain%20v%20The,hand%20in%20blood%20were%20unsafe
Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton. (2022). Forensic. https://lindychamberlain.com/legal-process-and-findings/forensic/
Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton. (2022). Legal process and findings. http://lindychamberlain.com/legal-process-and-findings/#at_pco=smlwn-1.0&at_si=6093d2ed4269a550&at_ab=per-2&at_pos=0&at_tot=1
Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton. (2022). The story. https://lindychamberlain.com/the-story/
Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton. (2022). Timeline of events. https://lindychamberlain.com/the-story/timeline-of-events/
Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton. (2022). Why did this happen? https://lindychamberlain.com/the-story/why-did-this-happen/
The New York Times. (n.d.). ‘Dingo’s got my baby’: Trial by media | Retro report | The New York Times [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Hwd0iomlM1Y
Nine Digital. (2010, August 9).Lindy Chamberlain exclusive [ClickvVew]. https://clickv.ie/w/56Xp
Skipsey, B. (2013). The Azaria Chamberlain case. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/on-this-day/2013/11/on-this-day-azaria-chamberlain/
Staines, D., Arrow, M., & Biber, K. (2012, June 12). Azaria Chamberlain inquest: Forget the dingo jokes and recognise Lindy’s trauma. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/azaria-chamberlain-inquest-forget-the-dingo-jokes-and-recognise-lindys-trauma-7590
University of MIssouri-Kansas City. (n.d.). Famous trials: The Lindy & Michael Chamberlain ("dingo") case 1982. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/chamberlain/chamberlainhome.html
