Relive Susan Neill-Fraser’s successful application to appeal her murder conviction
Relive the landmark judgment as it happened to allow convicted killer Susan Neill-Fraser to appeal for a second time.
Tasmania
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RELIVE the landmark judgment as it happened to allow convicted killer Susan Neill-Fraser to appeal for a second time.
Justice Michael Brett yesterday said Neill-Fraser has a reasonable case to present to the Court of Criminal Appeal and it was in the interests of justice that she be given a second appeal.
READ JUSTICE BRETT’S FULL JUDGMENT
Neill-Fraser, 65, is serving a 23-year jail sentence for murdering her partner Bob Chappell on board the couple’s yacht Four Winds on Australia Day 2009.
She will now need to lodge an appeal with the Court of Criminal Appeal.
HERE’S HOW IT ALL UNFOLDED ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON ...
3.30PM: More than 20 members of the public arrive at the Supreme Court in Hobart ahead of the anticipated Neill-Fraser judgment.
3.45PM: Neill-Fraser’s daughter Sarah Bowles tells media outside the court she is feeling “optimistic” ahead of the hearing.
3.50PM: Director of Public Prosecutions Daryl Coates and his team arrive at the Supreme Court to a foyer packed with Neill-Fraser supporters.
3.55PM: A packed press gallery and members of Neill-Fraser’s family eagerly await the arrival of Justice Michael Brett and the start of proceedings. A video link to Neill-Fraser’s legal team in Melbourne is turned on.
4PM: Neill-Fraser is in the dock, Justice Brett has arrived and the hearing begins.
4.10PM: Justice Brett asks Mr Coates and Neill-Fraser’s legal team if they have any further submissions. Both reply “no”.
NEILL-FRASER WINS APPEAL APPLICATION
4.15PM: Justice Brett begins reading his judgment to a packed courtroom. He outlines the background of the original trial and his requirement to consider if there is fresh and compelling evidence to allow an appeal.
4.30PM: Neill-Fraser nods intermittently during the reading of some of the facts. She is wearing a dark pink shirt, black jacket and trousers. One moment clearly makes Neill-Fraser furious.
SUE NEILL-FRASER CASE TIMELINE
As Justice Brett runs through the potential ways Mr Chappell could have died as presented by the prosecution, he addresses a theory that involved Neill-Fraser killing her partner in the saloon area before winching his body into the yacht’s dinghy and driving him away from Hobart for a “deep sea burial”. She shakes her head vigorously at the idea.
4.40PM: Justice Brett recounts the hearing from earlier this year. The evidence given in the latest hearing in relation to the DNA presence of Meaghan Vass on-board the Four Winds is recounted.
“Since the trial, she has made a number of admissions about having further knowledge of the evidence,” Justice Brett says about Ms Vass.
4.45PM: Justice Brett says he has not seen the 60 Minutes interview with Ms Vass that aired on Channel 9 in every state except Tasmania earlier this month. He is now reading his concluding remarks.
Justice Brett says there is no question the evidence is fresh “but is it compelling?”
4.50PM: About 50 minutes after the hearing begins, Justice Brett hands down his decision to allow Neill-Fraser to again appeal her murder conviction. Neill-Fraser smiles as she is led from the courtroom.
5PM: Neill-Fraser’s daughter Ms Bowles speaks outside the Supreme Court after her mum wins her landmark appeal decision. “We’re extremely grateful for Justice Brett’s decision today. However, it is one step in the course of a long journey,” Ms Bowles says. “Mum is an innocent woman and it’s time she came home for cuddles with her grandchildren. I want my mum back. I appeal to anybody who knows what happened to Bob [Chappell] and can free an innocent woman to come forward. Australia should not be satisfied with how justice has unfolded in this case. No family should ever go through what we’ve been through.” Supporters clap Ms Bowles as she leaves.
5.10PM: The Susan Neill-Fraser support group releases a statement following the decision. “This is the first time in 10 years that Sue has been given reason for hope in her long quest for judgment,” it says. “We remain deeply concerned for Sue’s wellbeing. A sense of urgency is needed in dealing with this matter to ensure vulnerable people are afforded due process.”
5.40PM: Tasmania Police release a statement saying they have reinterviewed Ms Vass following her interview with 60 Minutes earlier this month. Assistant Commissioner Richard Cowling says “Tasmania Police fully supports the legal process and remains confident in the integrity and thoroughness of the original and subsequent investigation teams. Police reinterviewed Ms Vass earlier this month after 60 Minutes promotional material suggested a new version of events. Further evidence associated with that interview will be provided to the Director of Public Prosecutions. As the matter is now confirmed to proceed to appeal, it would be inappropriate to make further comment.”
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