It’s been 15 years since Sue Neill-Fraser’s now discredited trial, but spurred on by the latest Etter/Selby report tabled in Parliament which sets out new material challenging the conviction, Tasmanians are calling for an inquiry– again.
The Mercury has today (Nov. 17, 2025) published three letters to the Editor probably representative of many more concerned citizens, under the headline:
Neill-Fraser case is ripe for big inquiry.
For years, graffiti on the side of Hobart’s City Mission declared:
“There is no justice; only just us.” That may ring true, but it must not be the final word in the case of Sue Neill-Fraser.
The latest Etter/Selby paper exposes serious flaws at the core of the DNA evidence used against her.
These revelations demand urgent action.
Now, more than ever, Tasmania needs a Commission of Inquiry into miscarriages of justice, starting with its most glaring example.
Lynn Giddings
Howrah
Sue just like Lindy
We must spare a thought for Sue Neill-Fraser, who served a 13-year sentence for the murder of her partner Bob Chappell.
All evidence was circumstantial as no body was found. She had the right of presumption of innocence.
The sentence handed down was manifestly excessive based on circumstantial evidence. In turn, the judiciary placed a gag clause as part of the condition of her release. What does the judiciary have to hide?
It is reminiscent of the Lindy Chamberlain case where she was accused of murdering her baby Azaria at Uluru but was later acquitted as it was deemed that a dingo was responsible.
Phil Georgeff
Dover
Gnawing doubt
The recent revelations relating to the conviction of Sue Neill-Fraser for the murder of Bob Chappell, her partner, must galvanise action to get to the bottom of what actually happened that fateful night and the basis on which Sue was convicted. Gnawing doubt remains. New information raises further doubts about the safety of her conviction. This issue can no longer be swept under the carpet.
Wrongful convictions do occur in Australia as elsewhere.
An independent commission of inquiry into the alleged failures of the justice system in the Sue Neill-Fraser case is imperative.
A hallmark of democracy is justice.
It requires truth and accountability.
Justice for Sue is justice for all.
Ruth Graham
Taroona
We publish these letters in the belief that only public pressure will help to dislodge the stubborn refusal of Tasmania’s establishment to establish the review Taswegians – and the rule of law – demand.
Dear Andrew. I just listened to an interview of Alan Dershowitz in the US. He was
Geoffrey Epstein’s lawyer. He was personally accused by the woman who recently died in Australia . She later said she was wrong, and it was supposedly a case of mistaken identity. Today Dershowitz said that people wrongly accused of such crimes are actually victims themselves. The damage done by such false claims are devastating.
It takes Malice on behalf of the accuser, clearly , but it also takes malice by police and DPP when a whole bunch of exculpatory evidence is ignored. Sounds familiar doesn’t it. ?
It’s also ironic that in the last few days my comments pointed out exactly that. Regards PV
Good on you Andrew for posting those letters that have been published by the editor in the local “Mercury Times”.
I convey the same thanks to the editor of this local newspaper for doing just that.
A long shot I know but wouldn’t it be another fine piece of editorial if this local paper could print the Etter/Selby report or the link to it for all Tasmanian readers to at least read the information the jury were never allowed to hear.
The other new facts NEED to be shared with everyone and more-so with the Tasmanian population who go about their every day business in the hope that Tasmanian police and justice departments are working in their best interests.
The people of Tasmania deserve to know these new revelations and surely then they will all get the chance to know how a jury of ordinary people could be so misled and in fact misguided by the trial judge with his final summing up that included circumstantial misinformation. Again, great work by Barbara Etter and Hugh Selby.
I had attended meetings in support
of Sue Neil Fraser during and after
her so called trial. Hindsight is 20 20
VISION, all those involved in that
Kangaroo court ,and policing have
left a great stain on Tasmania.
One of the worst accusations a person can make , if false, is child sexual abuse. If innocent, the accused will still carry this cross for the rest of his life. When the police and or DPP coach witnesses to collude so as to make the jury accept gaping holes in the accusations. , it is Perverting the course of Justice or ad Prof. Moles now attests , it is at least Fraud. If I am lucky enough to get my case reviewed and the injustice by fraud is established, I want 2 and a half year sentences for the investigating police detective , and the same for the DPP prosecutor. If you think that’s not enough for jailing the innocent and ruining the rest of his or her life ….. put yourself in my shoes and those of my family
Then tell me what would be a fair penalty. Pv