Convicted baby killer Keli Lane is suing the state of NSW for $2 million after being sexually abused by a prison guard.
Wearing a tracking device on her ankle, Lane was granted day release to plead her case in person at Sydney’s Supreme Court, where she claimed the state’s jail system failed to protect her from serious harm behind bars.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Keli Lane sues for $2 million over prison abuse
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Lane was a key witness at the government’s Special Commission of Inquiry into prison guard Wayne Astill in 2023, claiming daily sexual and physical abuse as an inmate at Dilwynia Correctional Centre in Sydney’s west.
Astill was sentenced to 23 years in jail for abusing his position and assaulting 14 female inmates, including Lane.
“We’re just hoping for some accountability to some serious misconduct,” Lane’s partner Patrick Cogan said outside court.
“It’s been harassment and bullying of Keli for a very, very long time. So we’re hoping for a positive day.”
Convicted baby killer Keli Lane is suing NSW government for $2 million. Credit: 7NEWSLane’s partner Patrick Cogan said they wanted “some accountability”. Credit: 7NEWS
Lane wants compensation, claiming prison authorities knew about Astill abusing her but failed to do anything about it.
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Criminal lawyer Paul McGirr said the compensation claim was not without merit.
“$2 million does seem a significant amount of money, but certainly that can be in the realm and I have seen circumstances where those amounts have been met,” he said.
Lane is no stranger to courts. She was found guilty in 2010 of murdering her newborn baby daughter Tegan and sentenced to 18 years jail.
She was back in 2024 fighting for parole, which was denied under the no body, no parole laws.
Lane won’t be free until December 2028.
The civil matter returns to court next month.
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