Andrew L. Urban.
Two new books and a 6-part documentary series on the Seven Network – all investigating the murder conviction of Sue Neill-Fraser – will become available before and after the February 5, 2019, Tasmanian Supreme Court hearing into her seeking leave to appeal for a second time. None find evidence in favour of her conviction.
Following the September 2018 publication of Andrew L. Urban’s similarly critical Murder by the Prosecution(Wilkinson Publishing), Colin McLaren’s Southern Justice(Hachette) will land in bookshops on January 29, 2019, and Robin Bowles’ Death on the Derwent (Scribe) will follow mid February. Also in February, Seven will begin broadcasting Undercurrent, a 6-part documentary series produced by Eve Ash, who made the award winning feature documentary Shadow of Doubt(2013), both critically examining the police investigation and the murder conviction.
McLaren will give evidence via video link at the February 5 hearing, following an affidavit he provided the court last year.
Justice Brett was reportedly anxious to get on with it at the previous directions hearing on December 11, 2018, saying: “The reality of this is the case has been ongoing for a considerable amount of time and the court’s eager to have this matter resolved.”
Indeed, and if justice delayed is justice denied, then arguably it is those within the system itself who have wilfully contributed to the delays who have perverted the course of justice in Neill-Fraser’s case. The seeking leave to appeal process began three years ago, in January 2016.
Neill-Fraser was convicted in 2010 of murdering her partner Bob Chappell and has been incarcerated since her arrest on August 20, 2009. She has strenuously maintained her innocence.