Lawyer calls for Folbigg release after DPP submission to inquiry

Kathleen Folbigg’s legal team has called on the New South Wales attorney-general Michael Daley to immediately release her from prison.

Folbigg has spent the past 20 years behind bars after being found guilty in 2003 of the murder of three of her children and manslaughter of her firstborn.

But compelling expert evidence presented over the course of an inquiry into her convictions held since November has now been accepted by the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling SC as casting a reasonable doubt over Folbigg’s guilt.

Outside the inquiry, Folbigg lawyer Rhanee Rego welcomed the position of the DPP, and called on the attorney-general to release her as soon as possible while presiding inquirer Tom Bathurst KC finalises his report.

“Of course, we don’t know the decision of his honour yet, but we are very hopeful for a positive outcome,” Rego said.

“Mr Bathurst has retired to write his report and… will be giving very detailed reasons to support his decision, but it is up to the attorney-general Michael Daley to release Kathleen Folbigg.

“He has the power to either give her a pardon, or give her parole, and we urge him to do that now.”

Bathurst’s final report is expected around June this year. Kathleen Folbigg was originally sentenced to 40 years in prison, later reduced to 30 years with eligibility for parole in 2028.