In one of the most chilling interviews in Australian television history, 60 Minutes reporter Liz Hayes has interviewed the killer of Australian girl Zahra Baker.
Zahra’s American stepmother Elisa Baker pleaded guilty to the murder and dismemberment of the 10-year-old disabled girl and is currently serving a 15-18 year jail sentence. The only reason she wasn’t given the death penalty was because of a plea bargain in which she confessed to the abuse of Zahra and subsequent murder and took police to the little girl’s remains.
What was most disturbing about the interview was Elisa’s repeated protestations of innocence and denial of any abuse of Zahra, despite overwhelming evidence. Zahra was the subject of numerous community services reports and one teacher became so concerned for her physical safety that she gave the girl her mobile number with a note saying, “Call me if you need me”.
You have to admire the poise of Liz Hayes who, at some points in the interview, gazed at Elisa with such disbelief and disdain that it’s hard to understand how she could sit across from her.
As Hayes interviewed the killer she reminded us in voiceover that Elisa was considered manipulative and a habitual liar, and that’s from members of her own family. She is also a bigamist, marrying Zahra’s father Adam while already married to someone else.