Azaria Chamberlain was taken by a dingo in 1980, Australian coroner finds (UPDATE)
Photo taken in 1980 of Azaria Chamberlain who was taken by a dingo while the family was on holiday near Uluru in Australia’s Northern Territory on Aug. 17 1980.
An inquest into the disappearance of nine-week-old Azaria Chamberlain has ruled that a dingo or dingoes were responsible for the baby's death in August 1980.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports that people packed into the Magistrates' Court in the northern city of Darwin to hear the verdict, which was delivered by Northern Territory coroner Elizabeth Morris.
"I'm so sorry for your loss – time does not remove the sadness and pain," Morris said as she outlined her decision.
Azaria's parents, Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton and Michael Chamberlain, have always maintained that their daughter was taken from a campsite near Uluru by a dingo, and Sky News Australia explains that they wanted the open verdict from a 1995 inquest changed to reflect that.
More from GlobalPost: Another inquest into Azaria Chamberlain disappearance
The Australian Associated Press says that the ruling ends three decades of "suspicion and innuendo" in what has become "one of Australia's most enduring sagas."
The Herald Sun says her parents have been presented with a revised death certificate, reflecting that Azaria was taken by a dingo.
More from GlobalPost: Down Under – Mysteries without end
Chamberlain-Creighton was found guilty of the murder of Azaria in 1982 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Her then husband, Michael, was given a suspended sentence after being found guilty of being an accessory after the fact, says the Brisbane Times.
Chamberlain-Creighton was released in 1986 when Azaria's matinee jacket was found. A royal commission and several inquests have followed.
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