Kathleen Folbigg breaks her silence

Kathleen Folbigg has spoken publicly for the first time since being released from prison.

The pardoned child killer was released from Grafton prison in northern NSW on Monday after an inquiry heard there was reasonable doubt about her guilt following her 2003 conviction over the deaths of her four children.

Sarah, Caleb, Laura and Patrick Folbigg all died as babies between 1989 and 1999. 

Sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2003 and not eligible for parole for another five years, Ms Folbigg has always maintained her innocence. 

She released a short video message on Tuesday after enjoying her first night of freedom in 20 years at the NSW north coast farm of her best friend and biggest supporter Tracy Chapman.

The video shows a beaming Ms Folbigg enjoying her newly-found freedom at her friend’s home near Coffs Harbour while smelling a big bouquet of roses sent by a supporter following her release from prison.   

Pardoned child killer Kathleen Folbigg (pictured) is enjoying her full full day of freedom

‘Hello, this is Kathleen. I’m extremely humbled and grateful to be pardoned and released from prison,’ Ms Folbigg began.

‘My eternal gratitude goes to my friends and family, especially Tracy and all of her family, and I would not have survived this whole ordeal without them.’

‘Today is a victory for science, and especially truth. 

‘And for the last 20 years I have been in prison, I have forever and will always think of my children, grieve for my children, and I miss them and love them terribly.’

The video message released by public relations firm GRACosway was Ms Folbigg’s first public media statement since her incarceration two decades ago.

Ms Folbigg’s convictions need to be first quashed in the Court of Criminal Appeal before compensation avenues can be explored.

Figures from as little $1million up to $20 million have already been speculated in the media.

Her legal team said it’s too early to discuss compensation but hasn’t ruled it out. 

‘We haven’t spoken to her about this. She is very much trying to focus on taking one step in front of the other and not rush into things because she has just been waiting to feel the grass on her feet, look at the sky and watch the sunrise for the first time in 20 years,’ her lawyer Rhanee Rego told reporters on Tuesday.

‘Kathleen is still having a cup of tea, acquainting herself to normal life, and we are just getting used to not speaking to her in a prison over an AVL call.

‘We are taking it one step at a time, but in due course, we will certainly be thinking about all options available to her.

‘We won’t be rushing her and pushing her to do anything. She does not need to do until she is ready.’

A beaming Kathleen Folbigg (pictured) issued a video statement thanking her supporters

A beaming Kathleen Folbigg (pictured) issued a video statement thanking her supporters

Tracy Chapman spoke to the media on Tuesday following her friend's release from jail

Tracy Chapman spoke to the media on Tuesday following her friend’s release from jail

 Once her convictions are quashed, Ms Folbigg may decide whether to take civil action against the state or accept an ex gratia payment.

‘She not only lost one child, she has lost four and been in jail for 20 years,’ Ms Rego said.

‘The system has failed her at every step.

‘Instead of trying to understand why her children died, potentially through an inquest… we threw her in jail, locked her up and called her Australia’s worst female serial killer.’

Ms Chapman shared candid details about her friend’s first night of freedom and how she was been ‘bamboozled’ by the latest technology.

Ms Folbigg has spent the first 24 hours on her friend’s farm getting to know the animals and was just happy to get her first ‘proper’ sleep in 20 years.

‘She slept for the first time in a real bed, had a cup of tea in a real crockery cup, real spoons to stir with,’ Ms Chapman told reporters.

‘That sounds basic to you all, but she’s grateful. Decent tea, real milk.’

Kathleen Folbigg (right) has enjoyed an emotional reunion with friend Tracy Chapman (left)

Kathleen Folbigg (right) has enjoyed an emotional reunion with friend Tracy Chapman (left)

Folbigg was also convicted for murdering her son Patrick (pictured)

Folbigg was for the manslaughter death of her first-born son Caleb (pictured)

Folbigg was also convicted for murdering her son Patrick (pictured left) and the manslaughter death of her firstborn son Caleb (pictured right)

Ms Folbigg did get one special request.

‘She asked for a Kahlua and coke. It was a flashback to the last 20 years,’ Ms Chapman laughed 

However, there was no time to cook the dinner of T-bone steak Ms Folbigg had dreamed of for years in jail. 

Instead, the party of about 12 settled for pizza as an IPhone and television left Ms Folbigg bamboozled.

‘Even the television, she was going ‘Oh my God, look at the television, it got so many capabilities’, so she was able to go ‘Oh my God, I can watch so much,’ Ms Chapman said

‘We were explaining you could actually watch all these television shows and you don’t have to sit there at 7.30 and watch a show anymore. She was like ‘This is amazing’.’

She was given 40 minutes’ notice to prepare for Ms Folbigg’s arrival on Monday as she recalled the chaotic day.

‘I basically knew she was coming out the door, and then she’d be there in 40 minutes so to go from 20 years to it happening… I was kind of cursing because I just went “this is not how it’s supposed to happen,’ Ms Chapman said. 

‘Neither of us could actually believe it … it was all a bit surreal yesterday,’ Ms Chapman told reporters on Tuesday morning.

‘She’s so grateful to be surrounded by her friends and family and her beloved legal team.

‘We are so grateful she is here. She actually said to me this morning, ‘my face muscles hurt from smiling so much’.’

Folbigg was convicted of the murder of her daughter Sarah (pictured)

Folbigg was also convicted of the murder of her daughter Laura (pictured)

Folbigg was convicted of the murders of Sarah (left) and Laura (pictured right) along with her two sons, but scientists later said Folbigg should be pardoned because the two girls’ deaths could be explained by genetics

KATHLEEN FOLBIGG: TIMELINE OF A KILLER

June 14, 1967 – Kathleen Folbigg is born.

January 8, 1969 – Folbigg’s father, Thomas John Britton, murdered her mother by stabbing her 24 times. Folbigg was made a ward of the state and place into foster care.

1982 – Folbigg left school at the age of 18.

1987 – Folbigg married Craig Folbigg.

February 1, 1989 – Caleb Folbigg is born.

February 20, 1989 – Folbigg put Caleb to sleep in a room next to her bedroom. She later found him dead in his bed.

June 3, 1990 – Patrick Folbigg is born.

October 18, 1990 – Kathleen Folbigg put Patrick to bed before Craig woke to sounds of his wife screaming. Patrick was taken to hospital and diagnosed with epliepsy and blindness. 

February 18, 1991 – Folbigg called her husband at work to tell him Patrick had died, saying: ‘It’s happened again!’

October 14, 1992 – Sarah Folbigg is born.

August 29, 1993 – Sarah died.

1996 – The Folbiggs move from Maitland, New South Wales to Singleton in the Hunter Region.

August 7, 1997 – Laura Folbigg was born.

February 27, 1999 – Laura died. 

May 21, 2003 – Kathleen Folbigg was found guilty of murder and manslaughter and later sentenced to 40 years in prison. 

February 17, 2005 – Court reduces her sentence to 30 years with a non-parole period of 25 years.

August 22, 2018 – NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman announced there would be an inquiry into Folbigg’s convictions.

April 29, 2019 – The inquiry begins in Lidcombe, Sydney. 

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