Andrew L. Urban.
In the wake of the Tasmanian Government’s dismissal today to consider a Royal Commission as urged by Civil Liberties Australia, we respectfully put forward this draft proposal for public discussion to form the basis of such a Royal Commission or an Independent Commission of Inquiry into the murder conviction of Sue Neill-Fraser, to shine a light on matters of public concern surrounding the entirety of the case. We do not share the Tasmanian Government’s ‘full confidence’ in the Tasmanian justice system.
On October 15, 2010 in the Supreme Court of Tasmania, SUSAN BLYTH NEILL-FRASER, was convicted on a charge of murdering her de facto, ROBERT ‘BOB’ CHAPPELL on their jointly owned yacht, Four Winds, anchored in the Derwent River at Sandy Bay, Hobart, Tasmania.
Neill-Fraser has always maintained her innocence of the charge upon which she was convicted. She appealed unsuccessfully against the conviction. Doubts have nevertheless remained as to her guilt and as to evidence in the trial leading to her conviction and to the correctness of the dismissal of her appeal on March 6, 2012, and the refusal of the High Court to hear her appeal on September 7, 2012.
Doubts have also arisen as to the fullness of the police investigation and subsequent shortcomings in the brief of evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
ROYAL COMMISSION / COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE MURDER CONVICTION OF SUSAN BLYTH NEILL-FRASER
The inquiry is to be guided by the meaning given to like terms in sub-s. 475(1) of the NSW Crimes Act (1900).
The Inquiry must commence with the fact that a conviction has been recorded, and that questions or doubts have been raised sufficient to justify the Governor, on the petition of the person convicted or some person on his behalf, or the Supreme Court of its own motion, to direct a Justice to conduct an Inquiry and to summon and examine on oath all persons likely to give material information on the ‘MATTERS SUGGESTED’ and any other matters that arise and are deemed by the Commissioner to warrant examination, including any systemic issues as to police procedures, practices of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions or Tasmania’s legal system in general.
MATTERS SUGGESTED:
*POLICE INVESTIGATION PROCEEDINGS PRIOR TO THE TRIAL
*THE CASE PUT TO THE JURY BY THE PROSECUTION
*THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE AT THE TRIAL
*OTHER EVIDENCE AT THE TRIAL
*WITNESSES
*THE TRIAL JUDGE’S OVERSIGHT OF THE TRIAL & SUMMATION TO THE JURY
*THE DISMISSAL OF THE GROUNDS OF APPEAL BY THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL OF TASMANIA (2011)
*THE EVIDENCE PUT TO THE HIGH COURT SEEKING LEAVE TO APPEAL (2012)
*THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY PREMIER WILL HODGMAN, ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL MATTHEW GROOM AND SOLICITOR-GENERAL MICHAEL O’FARRELL ON RECEIPT OF A DOSSIER ON 11 MAY 2017 FROM COLIN MCLAREN, EVE ASH AND ROBERT RICHTER QC WITH NEW AND RELEVANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE MURDER OF BOB CHAPPELL
*THE CHARGES OF PERVERTING JUSTICE AGAINST CERTAIN PERSONS DURING SEEKING FURTHER LEAVE TO APPEAL UNDER CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT BILL 2015 (No 42) (2017 – 19)
Police have a responsibility to a job that affects the lives of the guilty, the innocent and every taxpayer in their jurisdiction. The case of Neill-Fraser is full of doubt and yet there she is, a frail woman in gaol because some lazy incompetent police were in no doubt more interested in their tea break and the following weekend than investigating the events that right in front of them. Unforgivable. A royal commission is due and the police involved should try a decade behind bars before being invited to train police recruits.
I agree totally with Lisbeth Easto!
I have unfortunately had dealings with the police recently over stolen property.(not the same as murder I know)
My son and I attended the station to make a report firstly to be greated by an officer that was totally disinterested to the point of accusing us of stealing our own property.
We had to insist on him taking all details including motor registration, purchase details and transfer information. We also asked for a copy of our statement but were told categorically No and the report number was our receipt. On leaving, the police offer said and I quote “If you find the motor, please contact us”.
They had no intention of doing anything with the information we had given them or even look for our property.
My son made contact the very next day with a number of marine outlets only to be told that the police are supposed to contact them, similarly to pawn shops (and no-one had) and that our call was the fourth he had had that day with people. Reporting stolen boat motors…….
We did not steal our own property but were made to feel guilty…..I am truly scared for the innocent
You need to document everything and personally I would have taken a recording of the meeting with the supposed police officer. Deb you could have then reported this officer to the Commander of the Hobart Police or else emailed the Ombudsman. I solely agree with you since coming back to Tasmania They are in la la land and so laid back and still under the penal colony justice system without the convicts
It is an incomprehensible action to convict a person as jacqueline kindblad had reasoned in her comment dated 28th Jan 2019.
The systemic bias held by this State of Tasmania ghetto of Exclusives is condoned by those who resile from the proper consideration to the most exacting principles of our Australian common laws.
There are known Tasmanian precedent cases to support my comment.
No innocent person in this state is safe till a Royal Commission has been held. Any one of us could be where Sue is now. The old boys’ network thrives in Tasmania due to a lack of rigorous investigation and a plethora of unacceptable practices between ‘mates’.
The long distant days of mediocre investigation and witchhunt attitudes of the Lindy Chamberlain’s case which, even in the Northern Territory was sorted in 3 years, continue to exist in Tasmania.
Tasmanian citizens are scared and appalled at the fact this matter has not been overturned before now. We demand an urgent Royal Commission.
Similarities to my grandfather’s murder conviction at the hands of corrupt Qld. Detective and later Police Commissioner Frank Bischof. 8 weeks from arrest to a life sentence. Supreme court trial a sham….and this occurred 72 years ago! I’ll sign.
Tasmania’s legal system needs to be scrutinized one feels there is a fundamental cover -up and an ‘old boys ‘network within this system that is preventing justice taking place .No body , no witness ,no motif ,how can this woman be convicted of this crime .it is madness .
Andrew, why not start an online petition on this issue? I’ll sign it first:
I, Robin Bowles of 410/4 Bik Lane, North Fitzroy 3068, support the call for a Royal Commission in Tasmania to investigate the Sue Neill Fraser unsafe conviction.