An elderly Australian on Sunday backed up Lindy Chamberlain’s claim that a dingo took her baby when she was camping 24 years ago at what was then called Ayers Rock.
After two inquests and a trial, Chamberlain was jailed for the murder of nine-and-a-half-week-old Azaria in 1982, but was exonerated and released four years later after police turned up new forensic evidence casting doubt on the original verdict.
Frank Cole (78) told the Herald Sun newspaper that he shot the dingo that took Azaria and that it still had the infant’s body in its mouth when it died.
Cole said it was likely that one of his mates reclaimed the tiny corpse and buried it in a Melbourne backyard. Cole told the paper he has a conscience about the 1980 incident and wants the public to know the truth before it died with him.
He said he was camping with three mates at Ayers Rock, now called Uluru, and went to find food for their dog. He said he shot what he thought was a rabbit, but discovered it was in fact a male dingo.
It had a dead baby in its mouth.
He said the four friends feared the consequences of having both a gun and a dog in a national park, so they kept quiet about the incident. His three friends are now dead.
Cole said he had felt ”pretty lousy and guilty” when Chamberlain was jailed but nevertheless didn’t come forward. A spokesperson for the Northern Territory Police told the paper that his claim will be investigated. — Sapa-DPA