Susan Neill-Fraser’s lawyer successfully argues for footage and a transcript to be provided by the Nine Network

A judge has ordered a television network to provide unedited footage and a transcript of an interview for Susan Neill-Fraser’s appeal against her murder conviction.

Sue Neill-Fraser arrives at court for a previous appearance. Picture: BRUCE MOUNSTER

THE Supreme Court has ordered the Nine Network to provide to the court unedited footage and a transcript of an interview with a witness as part of Susan Neill-Fraser’s appeal against her murder conviction.

In the Supreme Court in Hobart today, Justice Helen Wood agreed to a request from Neill-Fraser’s lawyer, Chris Carr, that the Nine Network be ordered to provide the court with the unedited footage and transcript of a 60 Minutes interview with witness Meaghan Vass, that was aired in other states on March 10.

Neill-Fraser, 65, is serving a 23-year jail sentence for murdering her partner Bob Chappell, 65, on board the couple’s yacht Four Winds on Australia Day 2009.

According to the two-page notice of appeal filed with the court in August, Neill-Fraser argues “fresh and compelling evidence establishes that there has been a substantial miscarriage of justice”.

Justice Wood has given Nine until later this month to provide the footage and transcript. She has also given the network the opportunity to object.

Mr Carr told the court he had already discussed the matter with a representative of Nine and expected the items would be provided without objection.

Justice Wood also granted Director of Public Prosecutions Daryl Coates’ request for an order that the court release four lots of fingerprint lifts that were exhibits in Neill-Fraser’s 2010 trial.

Neill-Fraser’s appeal may return to court later this month if necessary but Justice Wood has also set down a further directions hearing for December 16.

Justice Wood has also listed the appeal for hearing in March.

Mr Coates said he estimated the hearing would take at least two weeks.

Mr Carr said Ms Vass’s evidence “lies at the heart of the appeal” and he expected she would be in the witness box for “a reasonable period of time”.

“The court will have to make findings of her credibility and reliability,” he said.

Mr Carr has proposed evidence from other witnesses heard during Neill-Fraser’s application for leave to appeal be submitted in the form of the transcript from that hearing.

In her notice of appeal, Neill Fraser argued that there was fresh and compelling evidence that:

MEAGHAN Vass, then aged 15 and homeless, boarded Four Winds and that Mr Chappell was attacked while Ms Vass was on board the yacht.

EVIDENCE led by the prosecution at the 2010 trial in relation to DNA and Luminol — a screening agent for blood — testing was misleading, as was a winching reconstruction on Four Winds.

THE dinghy seen near the Four Winds around the time Mr Chappell was attacked was not the Four Winds’ tender.

Neill-Fraser appeared in court today via video link from prison.

Originally published as Susan Neill-Fraser’s lawyer successfully argues for footage and a transcript to be provided by the Nine Network