Former Sue Neill-Fraser lawyer Jeffrey Ian Thompson’s trial date still not a certainty

A judge has expressed his displeasure at the continuing uncertainty around the trial date for a former member of Sue Neill-Fraser’s legal team who is accused of perverting justice.

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THE start date for a trial of a lawyer charged with perverting justice in relation to Susan Neill-Fraser’s murder appeal bid is still up in the air.

Jeffrey Ian Thompson, 55, a former member of Neill-Fraser’s legal team, who has previously pleaded not guilty to two counts of perverting justice, appeared in the Supreme Court in Hobart via telephone on Wednesday for a directions hearing.

Mr Thompson is accused of attempting to influence a potential witness to identify a person from a photo array in June 2017.

It is further alleged Mr Thompson prepared a document outlining the evidence he would or could give for Neill-Fraser’s appeal, relating to the witness’ identification from the photo array.

The court heard a trial date had been set down for November 8, with 12 witnesses expected to be called during the five-day event.

Sue Neill-Fraser.

But, Mr Thompson’s lawyer John Munro said senior counsel availability could be an issue due to interstate barrister David Edwardson QC being involved in another trial in November.

Justice Brett said he had made considerable adjustments to the court calendar for the November listing.

“I would have thought six months notice was enough even for someone like Mr Edwardson – that’s more than anyone else gets,” he said.

“I’ve gone to a great deal of trouble to accommodate interstate counsel. Six months notice is plenty of time to brief other counsel.”

Mr Munro said he accepted to court had done all it could to accommodate interstate counsel and would go back to Mr Edwardson for further instructions.

Justice Michael Brett adjourned the case until May 27 for a further directions hearing when a trial date is expected to be finalised.

Neill-Fraser has appealed against her 2010 conviction for the murder of her partner Bob Chappell, 65, in 2009. She is serving a 23-year sentence.

The Court of Criminal Appeal is yet to publish its decision following the murder appeal hearing, which wrapped up in early March.