Sue Neill-Fraser attends launch of The Exoneration Papers: Sue Neill-Fraser by Andrew L. Urban

Convicted Tasmanian murderer Sue Neill-Fraser has made a rare public appearance, almost one year after she was released on parole to attend the launch of a book written in her honour. Watch the video.

Convicted Tasmanian murderer Sue Neill-Fraser has made a rare public appearance, almost one year after she was released on parole to attend the launch of a book written in her honour.

Author Andrew Urban launched his novel The Exoneration Papers: Sue Neill-Fraser at Fullers Bookshop.

A crowd of more than 70 people attended the event – which featured a speech by former premier Lara Giddings.

He described the book – which makes the case for exonerating Neill-Fraser – as “kind of like an appeal on its own”.

“There is still so much appealable error that needs to be addressed, and I think it’s really important,” Urban said.

“Despite all that, and a dozen requests from lawyers and barristers, the Attorney-General [Elise Archer] is making excuses: not to investigate, not to have an inquiry into the case – and that is where the book begins.”

Sue Neill-Fraser arrives at Fullers Bookshop for the launch of The Exoneration Papers: Sue Neill-Fraser, by Andrew L. Urban. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The book goes through the second appeal and all the errors that still exist, so it’s kind of like an appeal on its own, taking the place of a courtroom.”

The launch comes days after Tasmanian MP Meg Webb voiced her support for an independent inquiry into Neill-Fraser’s conviction.

Neill-Fraser was paroled in October 2022 after serving 13 years for the murder of her husband, 65-year-old Bob Chappell, on January 25, 2009.

Neill-Fraser, now 68, has always maintained her innocence – but multiple attempts to appeal her case have been unfruitful.

Ms Giddings in her speech said the book would take the reader along Sue’s journey through a legal system that “seems incapable of writing the wrong”.

Former Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings who spoke at the launch. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“[The Exoneration Papers] joins a mounting number of books, podcasts and television programs that have been produced about this extraordinary case,” Ms Giddings said.

She gave note to those who had maintained support for Neill-Fraser from the start.

“The Sue Neill-Fraser case has been more about a system determined to maintain a conviction, than a system looking for the truth,” she said.

Author Andrew L. Urban at the launch of his book, The Exoneration Papers: Sue Neill-Fraser in Hobart on Wednesday. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“But what the system hasn’t accounted for is the drive and determination of many people to see this wrong, righted. And we, and many of you here tonight, are not giving up.”

Urban told the Mercury that Neill-Fraser had read a “raw file” of the novel before it had been published, and said he hoped the book would put “public pressure” on the Attorney-General to instigate an inquiry.

“ … Now that doesn’t require an admission or acceptance of her innocence. It just means, ‘let’s have a look’.”