Bombshell Revelation: Keli Lane’s Own Family Speaks Out in Bid to Free Australia’s Most Controversial Convicted Woman
Patrick Cogan has been with his girlfriend for 17 years. For almost 16 of those, she’s been in prison.
Her name is Keli Lane, best known as Australia’s “baby killer”.
Keli Lane’s partner, Patrick Cogan, is calling for the convicted baby killer to be released on parole. A Current Affair
In December 2010, Lane was convicted of the murder of her two-day-old baby, Tegan, in September 1996.
Lane has always maintained her innocence.
Now, almost 16 years into her 18-year sentence, her loved ones and supporters are fighting for her freedom, claiming “No Body, No Parole” laws in NSW are “unfair” in Lane’s case.
“Whether you think Keli did it or didn’t do it, she served her time,” Cogan told A Current Affair in an exclusive interview.
Lane’s other daughter – who was born five years after Tegan and was nine when her mother was jailed – says she is the “forgotten victim” in this situation.
She has never spoken publicly until now, and understandably doesn’t wish to be identified, but she wants Australia to hear her plea.
“My hope is simple: that my mum can come home and that I can spend meaningful time with her.”
Keli Lane’s daughter was only nine years old when her mother was convicted in December 2010, found guilty of the murder of two-day-old Tegan. Nine
Secret pregnancies & a missing baby
It was a bizarre case that captivated and divided Australia.
In the 90s, Keli Lane was a star water polo player with Olympic aspirations, who had three secret pregnancies: two she gave up for adoption and Tegan, who simply vanished.
Now 51, Lane’s version of events has never changed, as strange as it may seem.
Two days after giving birth to Tegan on 12 September 1996, Lane claims she gave the newborn to her biological father – a man by the name of Andrew Norris or Morris.
Neither he, nor Tegan, have ever been found.
Despite there being no body, no evidence and no witnesses, a jury found Lane guilty of murder in a majority 11-to-1 verdict.
Keli Lane was sentenced to a maximum of 18 years in jail. A Current Affair
She was sentenced to 18 years in prison with a non-parole period of 13 years and five months.
Cogan said even at that moment, he didn’t think about walking away from their relationship.
“Keli has suggested I walk away sometimes,” Cogan said, getting emotional.
“When she lost her last appeal she said, ‘That’s enough. You need to get on with your life’… [but] I’ve decided my life’s better when she’s in it.”
A ‘unique’ relationship
Cogan and Lane dated as teenagers, and reconnected 18 months before her murder conviction.
He knew what Lane was accused of doing, but continued to pursue the relationship.
“It’s questionable behaviour, and it’s taken an understanding of a situation of a woman who was in a really difficult position and couldn’t see any other way out,” he said.
When asked how he sees Australia’s “baby killer”, Cogan describes Lane as “very kind”.
“She’s a daughter to elderly parents who, at this point, were expecting her home a couple of years ago and Keli desperately wants to spend time with them before they pass on,” he said.
“[She’s] a woman who’s primarily a mother – a dedicated and caring mother – and has done a fantastic job with her daughter… that’s the girl I know.”
Cogan describes their relationship as “unique”, and admitted he has had other relationships over the years.
So, has Lane been “cool” with that?
“I don’t know that I’d say ‘cool’, but there’s been an understanding,” he said.
“She would sometimes say, ‘Just put yourself in my place’ and just behave in that respectful way.”
‘No body, no parole’
Lane has since served her minimum sentence, but in 2024 she became the first prisoner in New South Wales denied release under NSW’s “No Body, No Parole” laws.
The legislation was strengthened in 2022 after the high-profile Teacher’s Pet case, which saw Chris Dawson convicted of the murder of his wife Lynette.
The law became mandatory and retrospective, meaning it’s now impossible for any convicted murderers to be released on parole in NSW unless they reveal where their victims’ bodies are.
Lane has since served her minimum sentence, but in 2024 she became the first prisoner in New South Wales denied release under NSW’s “No Body, No Parole” laws. NIne
“The problem with that is, people who are innocent can’t do that,” said Professor Michele Ruyters.
Ruyters heads the RMIT Bridge of Hope Innocence Project, which looks into claims of wrongful convictions.
She says Lane is a model prisoner, and the “No Body, No Parole” laws are the only reason she is still behind bars.
“The whole point… is to provide closure to the victim’s family,” she said.
“But in this case, Keli is the family and she has the entire support of her family, so for her these laws are purposeless.”
Ruyters has written to NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Governor Margaret Beazley calling for Lane’s immediate release on parole.
The ‘forgotten victim’
Keli Lane’s daughter, born five years after Tegan, told A Current Affair the ‘No Body, No Parole’ laws have been applied to her mother’s case “without proper consideration of her individual circumstances”.
“Throughout all of this, very few people have considered how these decisions have affected me. I am a forgotten victim in this situation.”
Lane’s daughter, now 25, was nine years old when her mother was jailed for Tegan’s murder.
Keli Lane’s daughter says she is the forgotten victim of this case. A Current Affair
She has never spoken publicly – and wants to protect her identity – but she wrote a letter to A Current Affair, exclusively speaking about her relationship with Lane, and shared never-before-seen photos of her as a baby with her mother.
“My mum is not a risk to anyone,” she wrote.
“She is loved, she is wanted by her friends and family, and I love her deeply.
“I know how precious time is with your parents because it is something that can never be replaced.”
Lane’s boyfriend, Cogan, is not the 25-year-old’s father, but he has witnessed their relationship strengthen over the years, despite the circumstances.
He described how Lane spoke to her daughter on the phone daily, and helped with her homework from behind bars.
“At one stage there I know [Keli] was not happy with where her daughter’s grades were, so Keli – out on her own – went and organised a tutor,” he said.
Lane has since served her minimum sentence, but in 2024 she became the first prisoner in New South Wales denied release under NSW’s “No Body, No Parole” laws. Nine
‘We thought we had found Tegan’
Not only do Keli’s supporters want to see her out of prison, eventually they want to see her murder conviction overturned.
To do that, they need fresh evidence, and none would be more compelling than Tegan herself.
Cogan strongly believes Tegan, who would be 30 now, will walk through the door one day.
“[Keli] more than believes it. She’s obviously hoping it happens as soon as possible,” he said.
Over the years, some people have come forward thinking they could be Tegan.
Two years ago, they got close.
“We thought we had found Tegan,” Cogan said.
“This person – everything ticked boxes. Right age, the look was uncanny, and we were right down to DNA situations… but it wasn’t [Tegan].”
Daughter’s wish
Cogan and Keli’s daughter now spend time with Lane on weekends, when she is temporarily released from prison.
At this stage, Lane will stay behind bars until December 2028, when she has served her maximum sentence of 18 years.
“One of the first weekends that Keli came home and her daughter came up to visit, Kel expressed to me, ‘This is the first time in 16 years that I have been alone with my daughter without someone else there’,” Cogan said with tears in his eyes.
“You could see… how they were connecting.”
It’s that lost time driving Lane’s daughter to push for her mother’s release.
“My hope is simple: that my mum can come home, and that I can spend meaningful time with her, continue to build our relationship, and make up for some of the last sixteen years we have already lost,” she said.
“That is all I wish for.”
Cogan and Keli’s daughter now spend time with Lane on weekends, when she is temporarily released from prison. NIne
Statement from a NSW government spokesperson
“Individual parole decisions are made independently by the State Parole Authority, not by the government.
“The independent NSW State Parole Authority is responsible for granting parole for inmates serving prison sentences of over three years.
“The Authority considers a range of factors in determining the granting of parole, including community safety and any relevant advice from the Serious Offenders Review Council.
“Under the NSW ‘No Body, No Parole’ laws, the State Parole Authority cannot make a parole order unless satisfied an offender convicted of a homicide offence has cooperated satisfactorily with authorities to identify the location of the body or remains of the victim.
“While we are unable to comment on the circumstances of individual offenders, the government supports the No Body No Parole law and has no plans to change it.
“The laws are designed to encourage offenders to reveal the location of their victim, giving families the best chance of getting answers and some measure of closure.”
