Sue Neill-Fraser supporters hold vigil as convicted killer spends 12th Christmas in prison

Sue Neill-Fraser's supporters will be fighting for an independent judicial inquiry, or royal commission, as the convicted killer spends another Christmas behind bars – baking for other inmates.

• Sue Neill-Fraser to spend 12th Christmas in jail after murder appeal officially delayed until March 2021
• Sue Neill-Fraser supporters hopeful COVID-19 won’t dash chances to fight for freedom

SUE Neill-Fraser will be baking her famous pavlovas behind bars again this Christmas.

The convicted killer was hoping to make her second bid for freedom during 2020, but COVID-19 restrictions have delayed her appeal hearing until March next year.

Instead, she will spend her twelfth Christmas in custody at the Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison.

Rosie Crumpton-Crook, who has been writing to Neill-Fraser in jail for years, said the grandmother liked to stockpile supplies ahead of Christmas, making her famous pavlovas and pumpkin pies for her fellow inmates and prison staff.

Sue Neill-Fraser supporters from across the globe have sent her photos and messages as she spends her twelfth Christmas in jail. Picture: Supplied

“They try to have a celebration of sorts, I think they make the most of it that they can,” she said.

“I’ve met six or seven women who have been in prison with Sue and they’ve often mentioned her cooking at Christmas and cooking at people’s birthdays.

“She’s renowned for her pavlova – apparently she makes the best pavlova in the world.”

Ms Crumpton-Crook, along with other supporters, will be taking to Parliament House lawns this Saturday to raise awareness that the grandmother is again behind bars this Christmas – a fact they say is a “blight on Tasmania’s reputation”.

The supporters will bring along photos and messages of support from all over the world, including America, Chile and the United Kingdom.

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

“We want people in authority to take heed of this, that she has got support all over the world,” Ms Crumpton-Crook said.

If her appeal fails, Neill-Fraser will be eligible to apply for parole in August 2022.

But Ms Crumpton-Crook said she wasn’t confident the grandmother would be granted her freedom.

“She may be granted parole because she is a model prisoner, but I think if there’s any suggestions that she’d have to admit any guilt or show any remorse, then she wouldn’t accept parole because she wouldn’t leave prison on those terms,” she said.

Ms Crumpton-Crook also said if Neill-Fraser did win her appeal, her supporters wouldn’t stop fighting for justice.

“We will be fighting for some kind of independent judicial inquiry or royal commission that looks at how this was allowed to happen, to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

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