Charges dropped against lawyer Jeffrey Ian Thompson
A criminal case against Sue Neill-Fraser’s former lawyer has been dropped. FULL DETAILS>>>
Tasmania
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A CRIMINAL case against Sue Neill-Fraser’s former lawyer, Jeffrey Ian Thompson, has been dropped.
On Monday, a nolle prosequi against Mr Thompson was entered in the Supreme Court of Tasmania – some five years after he was first charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice in relation to Neill-Fraser’s murder appeal bid.
Linda Mason SC, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions for Tasmania, told Justice Michael Brett the case against Mr Thompson was discontinued, requesting he be discharged on both counts.
Justice Brett discharged Mr Thompson, and also ruled a suppression order that has prevented media reporting on the case since November 2021 be partially lifted.
The Mercury can therefore report that charges have been discontinued against Mr Thompson, but cannot yet reveal why until submissions are made and Justice Brett publishes his reasons, which will be done in “due course”.
Prosecutors had accused Mr Thompson of attempting to influence a potential witness to identify a person from a photo array in June 2017.
He was also accused of preparing a document outlining the evidence he would or could give for Neill-Fraser’s appeal, relating to the witness’ identification from the photo array.
Supporters of Sue Neill-Fraser, who will soon be eligible to apply for parole after serving 13 years for the Australia Day 2009 murder of her partner Bob Chappell, have celebrated news that Mr Thompson’s case would be abandoned.
Rosie Crumpton-Crook, president of the Neill-Fraser Support Group, said the decision was welcomed but it was an “utter disgrace that Jeff Thompson has had five years of his life derailed”.
She said Mr Thompson was one person who had been “collateral damage” in the Neill-Fraser case.
“As a support group, we will continue to focus on securing an independent, appropriately-resourced and empowered Commission of Inquiry to review exactly what has happened in Sue’s case,” Ms Crumpton-Crook said.
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Originally published as Charges dropped against lawyer Jeffrey Ian Thompson
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