Australia's most famous 'trial by media' case: The disappea

The Lindy Chamberlain case

Most famous line - "A dingo's got my baby!"

• 12 June, 2012 - heard NT coroner, Elizabeth Morris, finally say "the cause of her (Azaria's) death was as the result of being attacked and taken by a dingo". (Morris, E. June 2012, ABC News)

How did the evidence get so misinterpreted?

• Evidence at Royal Commission inquiry was different from evidence at trial

• 'Azaria's Injuries "Caused by scissors" (The Sun), 'Holes not made by dingo' (The Sun), 'Bloodied hands held baby's suit' (The News), 'Azaria's throat was cut, says UK Expert' (The News), 'Azaria Slain by Mother - Prosecution' (Daily Mirror); among many others.

• 'Trial by media' - Certain headlines convinced public of Lindy's guilt before her trial began

Analysis of Ethical theories

• To ensure honest and fair reporting the media should have taken John Rawl's 'Veil of Ignorance' and Aristotle's Golden Mean into consideration

'Let's put an End to Azaria Hysteria', "Daily Telegraph", November 5, 1982

Clause 9:

• Present pictures and sound which are true and accurate. Any manipulation likely to mislead should be disclosed.

'Brief' Timeline of events

Matinee jacket found,

Lindy confirms it

was Azaria's

and is released from

prison

Lindy sentenced

to prison,

Michael convicted

as accessory

Second inquest:

Lindy charged

with murder,

Michael as an accessory

2 June, 1987

Baby Azaria taken

by dingo from

parents' tent

22 Feb, 1984

3-5 Feb, 1986

13 Sept, 1982

20 Nov, 1981

29 October, 1982

Royal Commission

clears Chamberlains

of all guilt and

responsibility.

2 Feb, 1982

Chamberlains

appeal to High Court,

no success

17 Aug, 1980

"Trial of the Century"

begins

NT Supreme Court

quashes first inquest

and orders new one.

• The eyewitnesses and Lindy's account were turned into mere theory
• Media presented Prosecutor's allegations as fact

• 'Lindy's lies Prosecution claims' (The Sun),

'Dingo Story a transparent lie, says QC -

Lindy's account "Laughable" (Daily Telegraph),

'Crown Prosecutor Tells Jury:

"Lies, Lies, Lies" (The News)

• FACT - many questions were not asked of many witnesses. Many witnesses were not

even called.

(Hitchcock, K. 1984. "Azaria: A Question of Evidence")

Interview with Malcolm Brown - How did Malcolm Brown

approach the coverage of the case?

• How would I personally cover this case?

• Clause two:
• Do not place unnecessary emphasis on personal characteristics including race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation, family relationships, religious belief or physical or intellectual disability.

• Clause eleven:
• Respect private grief and personal privacy. Journalists have the right to resist compulsion to intrude.

• Much speculation made of Lindy's cold demeanor
• Media's obsession with Lindy's eye-catching body
• Media's emphasis on her family's religious beliefs

• Chamberlains deserved respect of privacy and personal grief
• Anonymous reporter who asked Lindy questions on air about her personal life
• Questions were not news but invasion of Lindy's private life and on a topic the reporter had agreed not to question Lindy about

Conclusion

• Ethical dilemma - media had decided Lindy Chamberlain killed Azaria and looked for everything they could use to support their claim
• No true evidence
• Media disregarded the MEAA Code of Ethics
• If the media applied specific ethical theories, the Chamberlain case might not have blown so widely out of proportion.

• How would you cover the Lindy Chamberlain case?

Why did Australia get so caught up in the drama?

1. Background of Chamberlain case

2. How evidence got so misinterpreted

3. Why Australia was so caught up in the 'drama'

4. MEAA Code of ethics clauses breached

5. Analysis of ethical theories

6. Questions...

Clause one:

Report and interpret honestly, striving for accuracy, fairness, and disclosure of all essential facts. Do not suppress relevant available facts, or give distorting emphasis. Do your utmost to give a fair opportunity for reply.

• Chamberlain case entered more than world of news; it entered world of TV drama

• Many journalists fuelled false rumours, even circulating some of their own
• Examples - "dingoes don't behave like that" and "a dingo couldn't run with such weight in its mouth"
• False reported 'Azaria' meant 'sacrifice in the wilderness' when Lindy said it meant 'blessed of God'

Screenshot taken from Kevin Hitchcock's documentary "Azaria - A Question of Evidence" (08:52)