Purchase
New Holland
August 2012
On Sale: August 1, 2012
456 pages
ISBN: 1742572898
EAN: 9781742572895
Hardcover
Add to Wish List
Non-Fiction Memoir
After 30 years of silence, and on the eve of the verdict of
a Fourth Inquest, Michael Chamberlain writes his own account
of the death of his baby daughter Azaria Chamberlain in a
heart-wrenching and compelling book. Never before has
Michael Chamberlain spoken about this tragic event and the
release comprises a number of picture sections with
exclusive unreleased family images. The story of the
Chamberlains has been the one subject that has divided many
a dinner party throughout Australia and the world.They were
a young family who loved the outdoors. When they took their
two young children and baby to Ayers Rock they never knew
their lives would be forever changed. Tragedy struck when a
dingo forced its way into the tent and dragged their
daughter Azaria to its lair. 'That dingo's got my baby!'.
That 'cry in the dark' on 17 August, 1980 of her mother
Lindy Chamberlain remains imprinted in the world's mind.In
Heart of Stone Michael takes the reader back to the place
where it all began - Ayers Rock (before it was also named
Uluru) . In a detailed, methodical and emotional account he
writes of all tragic moment when Lindy heard the 'cry in the
dark' and the discovery of the empty baby's bed. Michael
describes that long night - with Aboriginal trackers
springing to their aid to search, and the head ranger who
had agonized for three months previous about the troublesome
dingoes in the camping areas.He describes in detail the
heartache of the first inquest at Ayers Rock - the first to
be broadcast live - which declared that the dingo had taken
the baby, and then the turnaround, when he and his wife were
charged with suspected murder.Michael describes his life in
the painful and horrendous lead up to the arrest and
persecution of his wife Lindy and her wrongful imprisonment
for the murder of her own child in the 'trial of the
century'. He takes the reader through their ordeal of the
following inquests, the tragic breakup of their marriage.
When an English tourist fell off the rock the search led to
the discovery of the 'matinee jacket' in a dingo lair. The
news led to Lindy's release 'on compassionate grounds' and
yet another inquiry.All of these events are described, as
Michael lived in the unrelenting glare of the media, whose
opinion and fostering of rumours added to the impression of
the public of Michael and his family. There were unfounded
rumours, for example, that Azaria meant 'sacrifice in the
desert' when it actually means 'blessed'. Questions over
Michael's reluctance to cry in public, or his reserved
nature were taken to mean he was hiding the truth.Michael's
own determination for justice has led to a fourth inquest in
the Northern Territory of Australian into the death of
Azaria."This book is about getting justice for a family,
full circle. It is about the impossible mission driven this
time by me, against all odds; to open the fourth inquest and
the truth, backed by the law, declaring that a dingo killed
Azaria."While Lindy has published her own book, with a TV
mini series based on that, John Bryson has written Evil
Angels and Meryl Streep starred in Cry in the Dark, this
book is a missing link in the story of Azaria, written in
his own hand by her father.THE TIMELINE OF EVENTSAzaria
Chantelle Loren Chamberlain born, Mount Isa Public Hospital
: 11 June 1980Taken by a dingo at Ayers Rock: 17 August,
1980First inquiry into the death: Dec-Feb 1980/81Raid at
Cooranbong home by NT police: 19 September 1981Second
inquiry: Dec-Feb 1981/82Trial of Lindy Chamberlain
commences: 13 September 1982Lindy sentenced to life
imprisonment: 19 October 1982Daughter Kahlia born in prison:
17 November 1982Lindy released on bail: 19 November
1982Appeal (Lindy back to gaol): 30 April 1983High Court
Appeal: 22 February 1984Matinee jacket found at Ayers Rock:
4 February 1986Lindy released from prison: 7 February
1986Report to Brian Martin for Royal Commission: 11 February
1985Royal Commission ordered: April 1986Royal commission:
March-May 1986Finding delivered : 2 June 1987 but cause of
death left openCourt of Appeal: 15 September
1988Compensation for wrongful imprisonment: 19913rd inquest:
16 December 1995 delivers an 'open finding'4th inquest:
Northern Territory: commences 24 February 2012
Comments
No comments posted.
Registered users may leave comments.
Log in or register now!
| 
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy