Darwin release pleases Arthur Thomas

Press, 12 February 1986, Page 7

Darwin release pleases Arthur Thomas

PA Blenheim Arthur Allan Thomas, pardoned in 1979 of the Crewe family murders, is delighted at the news of Lindy Chamberlain’s release from jail in Darwin. Mrs Chamberlain was released last week after being convicted and imprisoned for the murder of her baby daughter, Azaria, at Ayres Rock in 1980. Mr Thomas, on holiday in Blenheim with his wife, Jenny, and their daughter, said he had always had “great doubts” about the case against Lindy Chamberlain. “This proves that the courts and the jury system can be wrong,” he said. Mr Thomas said he had never been in touch with Mrs Chamberlain or her family, but he would like to meet her. It has been reported that she will be visiting her husband s family who live at Mr Thomas believes

that Lindy Chamberlain’s faith in both her religion and the people who supported her was a major factor in her release. “She had faith in the people who have battled for her,” he said. “She had a committee set up to investigate the case, and a lot of public support like I had. It always looked as if she had the truth on her side — she had to win out in the end.” Six years after his own pardon and release from prison, Mr Thomas still finds that people recognise him in public and want to talk about his case. “I don’t find it embarrassing. I’m one of them (the public). People do come up to me and put a question about it to me, and I try to give them an answer.” He feels there is still a lot off work to be done on the Crewe murder and that the police yet to “clean their slate.”