KELI Lane, 38, who was jailed more than two years ago for the murder of her newborn baby, has lost her appeal against the conviction.
The former elite water polo player was jailed in 2011 for at least 13 years and five months for the murder of two-day-old Tegan almost two decades ago.
She will not be released before May 2024.
Today her appeal was rejected by Chief Justice Tim Bathurst, Justice Carolyn Simpson and Justice Christine Adamson in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal.
Lane killed Tegan after leaving Auburn Hospital with the newborn in September 1996. She had kept the pregnancy and birth secret from her family.
As the trial developed, it became clear Lane was a deeply troubled woman who had hid multiple pregnancies and births from those closest to her.
Tegan's body has never been found.
Keli Lane killed her baby daughter. Source: News Limited
The life of Keli Lane
Keli Lane was born in 1975 to well-known surfer, rugby player and policeman, Robert Lane, and his wife, Sandra. Lane lived in Manly on Sydney's Northern Beaches from the time she was four years old.
Keli’s father Robert (middle) with fellow champion surfers in 1963. Photo: The History of Surfing Source: Supplied
In 1992, while in her final year of high school, Lane begins a relationship with Aaron Tyack. She falls pregnant and has a termination. In 1994 their relationship ends and not long after, she terminates another pregnancy after an affair with a married man.
Keli Lane as a teenager. Source: News Limited
Between 1994 and 1998, Lane is in a relationship with Duncan Gillies. Within the first few weeks of dating the NSW Supreme Court heard that he "became very attached to Keli very quickly" and within six weeks, he began thinking about marriage.
Keli and her boyfriend, Duncan. Source: Supplied
The young couple have a mutual commitment to competitive sport alongside partying and were inseparable.
During this time, Lane works as a physical education teacher and plays water polo at an elite level. Her dream is to represent Australia at the 2000 Olympic Games.
Lane coaching water polo. Source: Supplied
In 1995, 19-year-old Lane gives birth to her first child, a girl.
It is only hours after playing in the grand final of the suburban water polo competition and attending the post-match function. Her daughter is lawfully adopted and Mr Gillies is incorrectly named as the father. He remains oblivious to this.
Duncan Gillies, the ex-boyfriend of Keli Lane. Source: News Limited
Lane seems to carry on her life like nothing is out of place. She represents Australia for a silver medal in the World Championships in Canada and early in 1996, she is chosen to play for the New South Wales water polo team.
Keli Lane with friends at her 21st birthday party. Source: News Limited
With a growing stomach and a job at a prestigious school on Sydney's north shore, rumours spread among the students and staff that Lane is pregnant. She is under the impression her changing body is not noticed.
"There wasn't much gossip about Miss Lane - but as her belly grew, so did the judging glances and snide remarks between parents. Miss Lane was obviously young, obviously pregnant and not married," Allisa Warren, one of Lane's former students, told a coronial inquiry.
Duncan Gillies, former boyfriend of Keli Lane, who did not even know Lane had newborn daughter Tegan. Source: News Limited
In April 1996, Gillies buys a house in a different suburb from Lane. It is around this time Gillies admits having a sexual encounter with her teammate and friend, their relationship begins to unravel, but won't end until 1998, when Gillies falls in love with another woman.
A year later, after a call from a social worker, the secret past of the woman he loved for four years is finally revealed.
The ward at Auburn Hospital where Keli Lane gave birth to daughter Tegan in 1996. Source: News Limited
On 12 September, 1996, Lane gives birth to a daughter Tegan in Auburn Hospital in western Sydney. She said she left hospital at 2pm, but in the trial evidence was presented showing she left hours earlier. It is believed she may have left via the fire exit.
Two days later, Lane and Gillies, attend a wedding. There were no signs she had given birth just days earlier. There were also no sign of a baby.
It was an unusual birth as their were no excited visitors, gifts or cards. She drew the curtain around her and did not engage in conversation with her fellow new mothers.
Lane at a wedding shortly after the birth of Tegan. Source: Supplied
In 1999, Lane again gives birth. She is refused an abortion in Queensland so decides to adopt the child out. She says to a social worker this was her first child and that Gillies is the father. He denies the claims.
During this time, DOCs discover Lane's previous pregnancies. Not only has she given birth to Tegan, she has also given birth twice more during her relationship with Gillies. He admits he had no knowledge of Lane's pregnancies.
Keli Lane and her parents at the murder trial. Source: Supplied
She hid all five pregnancies from family and friends to protect her personal image and reputation. Lane believed children would interfere with her educational plans, her social life and her chances of representing Australia in the Olympics in water polo.
Lane initially denies the murder accusations, before saying she has given Tegan to a family in Perth.
An investigation by police begins in 2001.
Town Hall Hotel in Balmain is where Keli Lane claims she met Andrew Norris, who she said is the father of missing baby Tegan. Source: News Limited
She tells police Tegan is not in fact with a family in Perth, as she first claimed, but with her father - a man by the name of Andrew Morris or Norris.
She claims they had a brief affair during her relationship with Gillies after meeting at an inner-city pub.
After Tegan's birth, she says she handed the baby over in Auburn Hospital's carpark.
Keli Lane being interviewed by police. Source: News Limited
Police begin an extensive search for Tegan, including DNA samples during the coronial inquest in 2005.
The police finally conclude Andrew is a fictional person.
The coroner declared he was "comfortably satisfied that Tegan Lane is in fact deceased", though said there was a possibility Tegan may be alive somewhere.
All the information is forwarded to the homicide squad.
The hunt for Andrew Norris or Morris spreads across Australia.
After all records are searched by police, no man by that name that fit Lane's description is located. Tegan also wasn't found in a search of almost 9000 primary schools.
Keli Lane outside the NSW Supreme Court. Source: News Limited
By now Lane has given birth to a fourth child, a daughter and is married to the girl's father. With no evidence of the death, police decide not to charge Lane.
In a strange step, the Director of Public Prosecutions, where the case was referred, charge Lane with murder. Her trials begins in 2010.
Keli Lane is taken away in handcuffs after her trial. Source: News Limited
The jury cannot come to a unanimous decision, so Justice Whealy advises a majority verdict of 11 to 1 is acceptable.
The jury find Keli Lane guilty of the murder of Tegan Lee Lane.
She has been locked up for 18 years. Tegan has never been found.
