Fresh inquiry into Ayers Rock dingo death

AUSTRALIA has launched a new inquiry into the death of baby Azaria Chamberlain to re-examine claims she was snatched and killed by a dingo at Uluru, or Ayers Rock, in 1980.

The Northern Territory’s registrar of births, deaths and marriages is examining the case after a plea from Azaria’s mother to change the death certificate to blame a dingo for the bizarre killing.

The registrar has called for submissions and new evidence from both Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton and ex-husband Michael Chamberlain. Both were convicted for the death, but later exonerated.

“He has written to both Mrs Chamberlain-Creighton and Mr Chamberlain inviting them to contribute to the inquiry and he awaits their responses,” the Outback region’s justice department said in a statement.

The department added it was “too soon to speculate” whether there would be a fourth inquest, after a coroner in 1995 recorded an open verdict.

However, Michael Chamberlain said he had been informally told authorities were moving to set up an inquest early next year, adding he was confident of finally proving Azaria was stolen by a dingo.

New evidence includes details of other attacks by Australia’s native wild dog on humans, including one in which a nine-year-old boy was killed in 2001, he told Fairfax newspapers.

“It’s justice for Azaria,” he said, according to public broadcaster ABC. “Her spirit does not rest because the truth was never told about how she actually died.”

Azaria was nine weeks old when she went missing on August 17, 1980, during a camping trip to Uluru, in the heart of Australia’s Outback. Her body was never found.