Kathleen Folbigg Makes Desperate Plea For Clemency

BY IAN CROUCH

The woman at the centre of Singleton's notorious child killer case has written to the state's Attorney General begging him to reconsider her Petition for Pardon.

Kathleen Folbigg is 18 years into a minimum 25 year sentence for the murder of three of her children and the manslaughter of a fourth child.

90 eminent scientists recently signed a petition arguing for her release based on new evidence which suggests all four children died as the result of a genetic mutation.

In a handwritten letter, Folbigg has begged NSW Attorney General, Mark Speakman to 'soften his heart' and grant her petition, saying she has always protested her innocence and regrets following the advice given to her at the time to not give evidence at her trial.

Kathleen Folbigg at an inquiry into her
convictions in 2019

Hunter Hairdressers To Receive Domestic Violence Awareness Training

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Hairdressers across the Hunter will receive domestic violence awareness training to ensure they’re better prepared if a client discloses abuse when attending their salon.

The training work shops will be conducted across five regions in NSW over the coming months, including the Hunter, South Coast, Central Coast, Albury and Wagga Wagga.

Attorney General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Mark Speakman said the training, would help ensure victims were referred to support services if needed.

“Hairdressers are valuable members of our communities who develop meaningful relationships with their clients, particularly if they’ve worked with them for many years,” Mr Speakman said.

“This training is about empowering hairdressers with information to best ensure that they are equipped to recognize domestic violence, manage any disclosures from customers, and most importantly, support the victim to get the help they need."

“Salon professionals are also a female dominated workforce, so we’re confident this training can help with broader community awareness too, given the tragically disproportionate impact of domestic and family violence on women and children.”

Legal Aid NSW CEO Brendan Thomas said co-ordinating a program such as this was an innovative way of engaging with people needing legal support.

“The easier it becomes for women and children to gain the full protection of the law, the greater progress we will make in eradicating violence in families,” Mr Thomas said.

Australian Hairdressing Council CEO Sandy Chong said hairdressers often listen to the problems of their clients and offer a sympathetic ear.

“It comes with the job, so the workshops can help them know what to do if a client does disclose to them that they are experiencing domestic violence,” Ms Chong said.

“We encourage hairdressers to take up the opportunity to attend these workshops.”

 The workshops will be delivered by local legal and domestic violence services participating in Legal Aid NSW’s Co-operative Legal Service Delivery Program, which works to bolster support for vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in 12 NSW regions.

Hunter Child Sex Abuse Cover Up Case Prompts Harsher Penalties

BY IAN CROUCH

NSW Attorney General, Mark Speakman will today introduce new laws to parliament to increase the penalty for concealing child sex abuse.

It comes after former Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide, Phillip Wilson was handed a 12 month home detention sentence in Newcastle Local Court for concealing the child sex abuse of paedophile priest Jim Fletcher in the 1970's and 1980's.

The state's Attorney General will move the legislative amendments after more than 13,000 people, many of them child sex abuse survivors, signed a petition calling for the change.

The proposed changes will see the penalty for concealing child sex abuse increase from two years gaol to five. However, if the concealment was for any sort of benefit, the penalty will be as high as seven years.

Child abuse survivors believe the increased penalties will go a long way to reducing the number of children being abused and in turn, the incidence of long-term mental illness which many survivors have to contend with.

The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions is appealing the leniency of the sentence handed to Phillip Wilson which is due to be heard next month.

Phillip Wilson Leaving Court In July After Being Sentenced For Concealing Child Sex Abuse

NSW Attorney General Orders Inquiry Into Folbigg Convictions

BY IAN CROUCH

Fifteen years after being gaoled for killing her four children, the NSW Attorney General has ordered an inquiry into the convictions of former Singleton mother, Kathleen Folbigg.

She is currently serving a 30 year sentence with a non-parole period of 25 years in Cessnock Gaol.

Kathleen Folbigg has always maintained her four children, Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Laura died over a ten year period from natural causes.

A team from the University of Newcastle Legal Centre petitioned the NSW Governor for an inquiry, arguing there was a lack of evidence showing the infants were suffocated.

Attorney General, Mark Speakman says there is sufficient cause for concern to warrant an inquiry.

"The petition appears to raise a question of the evidence that led to Ms Folbigg's convictions in 2003. That question concerns evidence as to the incidence of reported deaths of three or more infants in the same family attributable to unidentified causes," he said.

Inquiry Ordered Into Convictions Of Kathleen Folbigg. Picture Daily Telegraph