Cardigan will not yield clues—author

Press, 12 February 1986, Page 27

Cardigan will not yield clues —author

NZPA-AP London A baby’s tattered cardigan discovered at Ayers Rock, which led to the release of Lindy Chamberlain, would probably not yield any scientific clues, the author of a book on the case has said in London. Mrs Chamberlain has served 32 months of a life sentence for the murder of her nine-week-old daughter Azaria in August, 1980. She has consistently said that the baby was taken away by a dingo. She was released from prison on Friday after the accidental discovery of a white and yellow coloured cardigan at Ayers Rock. A Melbourne barrister, Mr John Bryson, flew to London on Monday lb publicise his book on the case, "Evil Angels,” due to be published next week.

“It is entirely proper that Mrs Chamberlain has been released and she

will now insist on every effort to clear her name,” he said.

“In my view, the evidence already available was sufficient to clear her, but this discovery beefs up her credibility.

“It was one of the central thrusts of the prosecution that Mrs Chamberlain had made up the existence of the cardigan. This discovery proves that the police were wrong. “The cardigan is so old and so abused by the elements that I would be surprised if investigations yielded anything.” Mr Bryson has spent four years researching and writing the book. He concluded it was “overwhelmingly likely” that Mrs Chamberlain was correct in claiming the baby was killed by a dingo. No body or weapon has been found. Since the discovery of the cardigan, a sixth judicial inquiry into the case will be held.