Case 243
Deidre Kennedy
*** Content Warning: infant victim, infant sexual assault ***
On April 14 1973, the Kennedy family awoke in their Ipswich, Queensland unit to discover the unthinkable. 16-month-old Deidre Kennedy was missing from her cot, having been abducted by an intruder overnight.
The hunt to find Baby Deidre’s killer rattled even the most seasoned detectives. What unfolded would become one of the most frustrating cases in Queensland’s legal history, paving the way for changes to the state’s double jeopardy laws.
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research & writing – Elsha McGill
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
PREMIUM
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RESOURCES
COURT DOCUMENTS
The Queen v Carroll (2002) – High Court of Australia
R v Carroll (2001) – Supreme Court of Australia, Court of Appeal
R v Carroll (1999) – Supreme Court of Australia Indictment
BOOKS
Justice in Jeopardy: The Unsolved Murder of Baby Deidre Kennedy – Debi Marshall
BLOGS
Leland E. Hale – The Official Blog
VIDEOS
Man found guilty twice of murdering a baby still allowed to walk free – 60 Minutes
Thieves steal murdered baby’s ashes – ABC News
Double Bind – Australia Story
ONLINE ARTICLES
Plaque honours infant stolen 40 years ago – Courier Mail
Woman hopes for ashes return – Courier Mail
Deirdre’s ashes still missing – Courier Mail
Peter Dutton’s police career rocked by case that shocked Queensland – News.com.au
Memories of 1974 flood still vivid after 40 years – Courier Mail
‘Deidre’s Law’, sparked by murdered toddler, may see three other cases revisited – Courier Mail
WEBSITES
High Profile Crimes That Reshaped The Law In Queensland – Gnech & Associates Lawyers
Grievance Debate: Double Jeopardy Laws
OTHER
Carroll, Double Jeopardy and International Human Rights Law – The Hon Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG
Reform of the Double Jeopardy Rule on the Basis of Fresh and Compelling Evidence in NSW and QLD – Kelly Burton, 2004, James Cook University Law Review