‘We sat and talked for a long, long time’: Sue Neill-Fraser and key supporter meet after 13 years in jail for murder

Despite campaigning for over a decade, on her way to meet infamous convicted murderer Sue Neill-Fraser for the first time, long-time supporter Rosie Crumpton-Crook started to feel nervous. Read more here.

Sue Neill- Fraser Support Group President Rosie Crumpton- Crook after her release from prison. Picture: Chris Kidd

ON HER way to meet the infamous Sue Neill-Fraser for the first time, long-time supporter Rosie Crumpton-Crook started to feel nervous.

“When I was driving to meet her, I suddenly thought ‘gosh, I’ve been campaigning for her for over a decade and I’ve never met her, and what happens if I meet her and I don’t like her?” she said.

“But I did. Of course, as soon as I met her, it was like I’d met up with a very old friend and we hadn’t seen each other for a while. And we sat and talked for a long, long time.”

Ms Crumpton-Crook had long been friendly with Bob Chappell, over whose murder Neill-Fraser has spent the past 13 years in jail.

The former hospital social worker had worked near to the Royal Hobart Hospital radiation physicist, and always thought of him as a “nice man” and a bit eccentric.

Rosie Crumpton-Crook. Supporters of Sue Neill-Fraser rally on parliament lawns marking 13 years since her arrest. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

She became interested in the case, joining the Sue Neill-Fraser Support Group a few years later, then becoming its president in 2020.

The two women have been sharing letters for the past decade but had never had the chance to meet in real life – until now.

Ms Crumpton-Crook met Neill-Fraser a few days after her release from prison on October 4 this year, visiting her at her current residence.

The pair has also caught up a couple of times since – even taking the dog for a walk together last week.

Sue Neill-Fraser arrives at Launceston Supreme Court. Picture: BRUCE MOUNSTER

“We talked about her time in prison and we talked about our families and we talked a lot about what happens now,” Ms Crumpton-Crook said.

“She was very clear, obviously that she wants her name cleared.

“She was also very clear to see that what happened to her does not happen to anyone else.”

Ms Crumpton-Crook said Neill-Fraser was looking forward to enjoying Christmas with her family for the first time in 13 years, but was also worried about other women accused of serious crimes like murder.

“The way she sees it, it was too easy for things to go wrong. There should have been other safeguards in place so it didn’t get as far as it did,” she said.

She said Neill-Fraser was also worried about the women she left behind at the Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison – hoping they would receive more legal and rehabilitative support.

Ms Crumpton-Crook also said Neill-Fraser was “very humbled”, “amazed” and “astounded” by the amount of support she’d had over the past 13 years.

She herself said their meetings had renewed her resolve to clear Neill-Fraser’s name and to fight for a commission of inquiry into miscarriages of justice.

“Sue’s out of prison but she’s not free,” Ms Crumpton-Crook said.

“She’s still got the title of convicted murder, or granny killer as lots of the media like to refer to her.

“That title has to be jumped on, she’s got to be cleared.”

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