They call him “the worst serial killer in Australia” who was accused of killing his 4 children, but now scientists say he is innocent

Leading scientists apologize to so-called “Australia’s worst serial killer” They argue that their four children have rare genetic conditions that could explain their deaths due to natural causes.

Kathleen Folpick is in prison Kill their children when they were children between 1990 and 1999.

This week, Its supporters began a petition signed by 90 scientists, including the world’s leading experts on rare genetic disorders, arguing that rare genetic mutations could explain the sudden death of children.

The chances of a family being unfortunate to lose four children due to natural causes are slim. But, as one of the investigators who put pressure for Folpick’s independence said, “In genetics, single events are common.”

Folpick was jailed in 2003 after a seven-week trial The prosecution argued that he had suffocated his children Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Elizabeth in frustrating moments.

He was convicted of Patrick’s murder, and his death in 1991, eight months later, was due to suffocation following epilepsy; Sarah, who died in 1993 at 10 months, was due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); And Laura, who died in 1999 at 19 months of unknown cause; Caleb, who died in 19 days in 1990, was the cause of SIDS’s homicide. Folpick has always maintained his innocence, saying his children died of natural causes.

A series of reports from the leading scientific journal COSMOS look at the progress that scientists are making in changing the weight of evidence in this case. Folfick’s apology to the governor of New South Wales, Margaret Beasley, prompted them to file a petition.

The prosecution argued that Folpick had suffocated his children, But scientific findings have cast doubt on that conclusion.

Ian Connelly, editor-in-chief of the Royal Institution of Australia and editor of the Cosmos, said: “The key is that science in this case has changed with new insights. This long list of incredible learning and renowned Australians demands that justice be done.” This was stated in a statement last Thursday.

“This may be important, as our courts are prepared to accept co-supporting scientific evidence, especially when confronted with circumstantial details, including relatively new discoveries.” Added.

Folby was convicted on the basis of circumstantial evidence and evidence from his diaries, and the prosecution argued that his four children were not likely to die suddenly and unexpectedly in their sleep.

Those diaries contain entries from 1997 after Laura was born: “I would never have tolerated another like Sarah. She saved his life by being different. “And:” She is a very kind child. Thank God he will save her from the fate of her brothers. I think she was warned.

Said another entry: “All I wanted with Sarah was to keep her mouth shut. One day he did.

But forensic pathologists raised concerns about the medical evidence provided at the inquest, and in March 2019, a judicial inquiry into Folpick’s allegations was launched.

According to medical records, All four children suffered from a number of conditions before dying: the first child Caleb had difficulty breathing since birth; Second, Patrick, suffered from epilepsy; The women Sarah and Laura had respiratory infections just days before they died.

Scientists say that if these conditions have a fundamental natural cause, it could be genetic, with a wide range of manifestations and dangerous triggers.

An international multidisciplinary team of scientists has launched a study to find the culprit and is considering it Rare genetic variations may be responsible for the cardiovascular or respiratory disorders behind sudden deaths in children.

Corolla Vinosa, a professor at the Australian National University, said the team began by sorting out the entire gene of Kathleen Folfick.

“Kathleen was likely to be a carrier of one of these types because it was so complex to extract children’s genes because they are hereditary,” he said. Vinusa said in a statement.

It is not uncommon for some to be silent in some of the categories that cause sudden death in children; Some may carry the mutation, but may grow into healthy adults.

“So Folbick may have carried these mutations and sent them to his children. It’s a little dangerousSaid Vinusa.

They found that all of their children had a basic condition or mutated gene, which means they may all have died of natural causes.

Folpic had an previously unreported mutation in the G114R designated in the CALM2 gene. The CALM2 gene, a calcium module, is a calcium-modified protein and mutations in this gene have been linked to sudden cardiac death. There was mutation in Sarah and Laura. At the autopsy Laura showed signs of a heart attack.

Caleb and Patrick’s genes showed a distinct rare genetic variant in the BSN gene that was linked to early-onset seizures in mouse studies. Patrick was diagnosed with epilepsy four months before birth, and Caleb had a sore throat and difficulty breathing.

“If genetics are not taken into account, four natural deaths in a family would appear to be an exceptionally rare phenomenon. In fact, it is not.” Said Vinusa.

Follicle Judgment It was reduced from 40 years to 30 years on appeal in 2005, with a 25-year parole period. If the permit is not granted, the 53-year-old will be eligible for parole in 2028.

The New South Wales Criminal Court of Appeals has twice dismissed the appeal against these sentences. The appeal to the High Court was also dismissed.

Despite the new evidence, Chief District Court Judge Reginald Blanche QC said: “It is now plausible that Sarah and Laura Folpick may have had a heart condition, even if they agreed with Professor Vinusa’s opinion, and this raises the possibility that it caused their deaths. I do not believe the investigation should be reopened for the purpose of conducting further investigations into the CALM2 variant identified in Sarah and Laura. For the above reasons, the additional information obtained from the completion of the trials and presentations did not raise in my mind a reasonable suspicion of Ms. Folpick’s guilt for these crimes.”.

Folpick’s legal team challenged the trial in the High Court, Blanche said “Discriminated” It did not adequately explore genetic evidence. The court set aside its decision last month.

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