Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton has rallied around her children after the unexpected death of ex-husband Michael Chamberlain, appealing for privacy as the family grieves.
The 68-year-old broke her silence on Tuesday after Mr Chamberlain, 72, died in Gosford Hospital in NSW on Monday after complications from leukaemia
"I am on my way today to support and be with our children," she said in a statement.
"Given Michael's death was unexpected, I would ask that the media please consider that Michael's wife and all of his children are deeply grieving and need some space."
The Chamberlains had four children together, but it was the 1980 disappearance of their third, Azaria, that thrust the couple into a long-running public spotlight and legal nightmare.
Despite her protests that a dingo took Azaria, Lindy was jailed for life in 1982 after she was found guilty of murder. Michael was given an 18 month suspended sentence for being an accessory.
They were pardoned in 1986 after new evidence emerged, but had to wait until 2012 for a fourth inquest and vindication when a coroner ruled Azaria was killed by a dingo.
Stephen Hatton, who was Northern Territory chief minister when the Chamberlains were pardoned, remains adamant the NT government acted fairly the whole way through.
"I feel quite sad for Michael and his family. He's obviously been through some traumas in his life," he told AAP on Tuesday.
NT Police Deputy Commissioner Kate Vanderlaan said the trias and inquests and trials Mr Chamberlain and his wife endured highlighted shortcomings in the force and impacted his life.
"There's a lot of water under the bridge. The apologies have been given, people have admitted mistakes, and there's no point now going back over that," she said on Tuesday.
"It's a sad occasion on Mr Chamberlain's passing but there's no point re-apologising."
Last Thursday, Mr Chamberlain's second wife Ingrid took to Facebook after her husband was taken to hospital by their daughter.
Mr Chamberlain, a former Seventh Day Adventist pastor turned teacher, had become a carer for his wife after she suffered a debilitating stroke in 2011.
"Everyone please pray for Michael, he suffered a lot of pain last night and Zahra took him to hospital, your prayers would be appreciated," Ingrid Chamberlain posted.
She later added that her husband had some fluid on the lungs and trouble with his bone marrow.
Ingrid's daughter Winny posted a heartfelt tribute to Mr Chamberlain on her Facebook page.
"RIP to the man who stood up and became my Father when I was 15 ... I will miss you so so much Michael ... til we meet again."
Greg Piper, an independent NSW MP who had been friends with Mr Chamberlain since the early 1990s, has remembered him as a dedicated family and community man.
"Michael never hid from the notoriety which came with the disappearance of Azaria, but he rarely spoke about it to me and he didn't let it define him," he said.
"He defined himself as a good community leader who worked hard for his community and family."
Actor Sam Neill, who played Mr Chamberlain in the 1988 film Evil Angels, said the couple were "terribly, cruelly wronged".
"Throughout their cruel ordeal & the years of injustice, Michael Chamberlain maintained that quiet unassuming dignity - an impressive man RIP," he tweeted.
