Explained | How science helped Australian woman convicted of killing her children walk free Premium

For almost two decades, Kathleen Folbigg, was behind bars, in Australia, for the death of her four very young children. Now, thanks to science, she can walk free

The story so far: For almost two decades, Kathleen Folbigg, was behind bars, in Australia, for the death of her four very young children. Now, thanks to science, she can walk free.

On June 5, she was pardoned and released after an inquiry concluded that there was “reasonable doubt as to the guilt of Ms. Folbigg for each of the offences for which she was originally tried,” Naturereported. 

The culprit, as it turns out, is a rare gene mutation that was not available as genetic evidence at the time of her original trial. 

Ms. Folbigg, 55, was dubbed “Australia’s worst female serial killer” after a jury found that she killed her children Caleb (19 days), Patrick (8 months), Sarah (10 months) and Laura (18 months) over a decade.

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The prosecution at the original trial alleged that she had smothered them despite there being no evidence of injuries or smothering. The trial convicted her on the basis of circumstantial evidence and focussed mainly on her diary entries, which described her hardships with motherhood. According to a BBCreport, a snippet from an entry — “guilt about them all haunts me” — formed the base of the prosecutor’s case.

In 2003, she was convicted on three counts of murder and one manslaughter conviction.