News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Michael-Lindy-chamberlain-main_article_image.jpg
PA
UK News

Christian 'dingo baby' man, wrongly convicted, dies

by Aaron James

Michael Chamberlain, 72 and a former pastor, died on Monday of complications from leukaemia, his friend Stuart Tipple said.

Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, both Seventh-day Adventists, were wrongly convicted of the death of their nine-week-old daughter Azaria after the baby vanished from their tent during a 1980 camping trip to Uluru in the Australian Outback.

The Chamberlains insisted a dingo snatched their daughter but prosecutors argued that Lindy had slit her daughter's throat and buried her in the desert. Azaria's remains were never found.

In 1982 Lindy Chamberlain was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Michael Chamberlain was convicted of being an accessory and given a suspended sentence.

Three years later Azaria's jacket was found in the desert near a dingo den and Lindy Chamberlain was released from prison and later the Chamberlains' convictions were formally overturned.

Michael Chamberlain was a pastor with the Seventh-day Adventist church, a Protestant denomination few Australians knew well at the time, and false rumours circulated that Lindy had killed her daughter as part of a religious ritual.

In 2012 a coroner ruled that the baby had died as a result of a dingo attack.

Shortly before the coroner's ruling, Michael Chamberlain said religious prejudice played a large role in the injustice he and his former wife suffered.

"The church got so smashed up, erroneously, and all through, really, a nasty dose of prejudice," he said.

"I can say that I think our religion definitely impacted quite strongly on the attitude that many Australians developed."

Seventh-day Adventists believe Saturday, rather than Sunday, should be the Biblical Sabbath and the main day of worship for Christians.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate