Evil Angels: The Case of Lindy ChamberlainThe basis for the Meryl Streep film A Cry in the Dark: The dramatic true story of a mother’s worst nightmare and the murder trial that shocked Australia. On a camping trip at Ayer’s Rock, the Chamberlain family’s infant daughter disappeared in the middle of the night. Her distraught mother, Lindy, claimed she saw a dingo carry her off into the Australian outback. Two years later, their tragedy worsened when, without a murder weapon, a body, or even a motive, a jury convicted Lindy Chamberlain of killing her own daughter. The public cheered. John Bryson, a trial lawyer and award-winning journalist, deconstructs the factors that led to a seemingly reasonless incarceration and the public attitude that demanded it. With this book, he began to sway popular opinion in the Chamberlains’ favor by discussing the failures on the part of the police, forensics team, and press. Winner of the CWA Gold Dagger and the inspiration for the film A Cry in the Dark starring Meryl Streep, Evil Angels presents an impartial analysis of the most notorious miscarriage of justice in Australian history. It serves as a reminder of the dangers of blindly searching for a conviction, the importance of scientific accuracy, the volatility of the media, and the ease with which a nation can fall prey to bigoted thinking. Written with literary finesse, this is one of the twentieth century’s most important—and thoughtful—works of true crime. |
Contents
Evensong | |
Its Time We All Went Home | |
Cerements | |
Every Part of Town | |
Curiosities | |
Nothing At All Like Trust | |
Partisans | |
Spells | |
A Graveyard Floodlit | |
Merciful | |
For All the Good It Will | |
Sanctuary | |
Newsflashes | |
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Adelaide Adelaide zoo Adventist Aidan Alice Springs asked Avondale College Ayers Rock Azaria Chamberlain baby baby’s barbecue Barker Barritt blankets blood boys called camera camera-bag camp carried Charlwood child close clothing Cocks Constable Cooranbong court Darwin defence DeLuca dingo door evidence fibres foetal forensic Frank Morris front Galvin Gilroy Greg Haby haemoglobin hair hand happened head heard inquest inside interview journalists judge jump-suit jury Justice Muirhead Kirkham knew Kuhl Lindy Chamberlain looked Macknay Malcolm Brown Melbourne Michael Chamberlain morning Morris motel Mt Isa nappy night parka Pastor Phillips photographs Pitjantjatjara police Professor Cameron prosecution question ranger Reagan recall Rice Roff Sally Lowe scissors seemed Sergeant singlet sleeping-bag someone somewhere sort stains stood Sturgess Sydney taken talking tell tent tests things thought Tipple told took torch trial turned Uluru walked wanted Winmatti witness