On 27 April 2022, leading international scientific journal, Nature, published a ground-breaking study on the currently incurable autoimmune disease, lupus. Read the research article here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04642-z
Along with a colleague from the Australian National University, the research was led by Professor Carola Vinuesa FAA, the same person who discovered the genetic mutation in Sarah and Laura Folbigg.
This discovery is a significant breakthrough for people with lupus and paves the way for future treatment.
Professor Vinuesa’s research is consistently of the highest quality, acknowledged through her publications in prestigious journals, and her recent appointment to the leading global scientific institution, the Francis Crick Institute in London.
Professor Vinuesa collaborates with highly experienced and credentialed teams to understand the genetic basis of chronic diseases suffered by people worldwide. Her research has already changed the way we know various disease states, and she is likely to make many more important discoveries in her career.
In November 2020, 27 experts worldwide, including Professor Vinuesa and a world-leading expert in the genetics of cardiac arrhythmias, Professor Peter Schwartz, conducted testing on the CALM2 G114R mutation identified in Kathleen Folbigg and her two daughters, Sarah and Laura Folbigg. Their research concluded that there is a greater than 99% chance it caused the deaths of Sarah and Laura Folbigg. Published in the prestigious Oxford University Journal, EP Europace in November 2020. The study can be accessed here: https://academic.oup.com/europace/article/23/3/441/5983835
This evidence was given to the NSW Governor and Attorney General over a year ago in a petition requesting Kathleen’s immediate release from incarceration. The petition can be read here: https://www.science.org.au/files/userfiles/events/news/documents/petition-to-governor-of-nsw-for-pardon-of-kathleen-folbigg-05-03-21.pdf
The NSW Attorney General, Mr Mark Speakman has made no comment on the science to date although we are aware he has obtained advice from his lawyers about it some time ago. He declined to be assisted by Professor Vinuesa and Professor Schwartz, along with six other world-leading experts, to explain the new genetic findings and answer any questions. This briefing was offered by the Australian Academy of Science (the Academy), the leading independent scientific institution and advisor to government in Australia. The Academy also offered Mr Speakman the opportunity to invite scientific experts of his choosing to the briefing. Notwithstanding, Mr Speakman claimed the Academy are ‘third parties’ and would not hold private or public discussions with them.
We are astonished that Mr Speakman would not accept this no-cost offer by world-leading independent scientists. Further, he has not given any indication that he has received expert scientific advice to assist in his or his lawyer’s deliberations. Nor has he submitted the analysis of evidence by his lawyers for verification of scientific accuracy.
The law only needs to be satisfied that there is a reasonable possibility consistent with innocence to free Kathleen Folbigg. Kathleen Folbigg has much more than that: science and medicine have provided clear, certain causes of death for ALL FOUR children. With the benefit of the new genetic studies led by Professor Vinuesa, we now know genetics caused the two girls’ deaths and we have held an innocent, grieving mother in prison unjustly for nearly 20 years.
Justice for Kathleen Folbigg believes the scientific evidence supporting the petition to free Kathleen proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Kathleen is innocent, and if the NSW Attorney-General feels otherwise he must stop hiding behind vague words that imply he will come to a decision on Kathleen's fate shortly, and step up NOW to provide that decision. Mr Speakman stated in an estimates hearing recently, that he is aware there is "a person sitting in prison" awaiting this decision. As said, Mr Speakman now has the legal advice he stated he was waiting on. It is time to show real leadership and provide a decision to the NSW Governor, Kathleen Folbigg and the people of NSW.