The truth will out – with help from Sodium Pentothal

Posted on August 26, 2023 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban

I suspect* that Hobart grandmother Sue Neill-Fraser, convicted** in 2010 of murdering her partner of 18 years Bob Chappell, whose body has never been found, can’t wait to be injected with the truth drug Sodium Pentothal that has been proposed by two senior barristers as a way to force convicted killers to reveal the bodies of their victims and give closure to the families of victims. Trial judge Alan Blow (now Tasmania’s Chief Justice) handed Sue Neill-Fraser an extra long sentence for not revealing that information. (The appeal court chided him, ever so respectfully, and took three years off the 26 year sentence he imposed.) Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 17 Comments

CCRC would relieve politicians of impossible choice

Posted on August 13, 2023 by andrew

As things stand, politicians burdened with the responsibilities of Attorney-General often face the impossible choice of advising the relevant Governor on petitions from innocents convicted of sexual abuse. It should not be their choice; legal matters should stay within the realm of the administration of the law, not politics, argues ANDREW L. URBAN.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 06 'Paul', Case 22 Noel Greenaway, CCRC, General articles | 26 Comments

Sofronoff doesn’t go far enough on disclosure reform – Selby

Posted on August 12, 2023 by andrew

The recently released Sofronoff Report into the ACT Criminal Justice System’s handling of the Brittany Higgins rape allegation against Bruce Lehrmann recommends legislation to codify the scope and content of the obligation of disclosure owed by the prosecution in criminal proceedings. That suggestion is too narrow, writes former ACT barrister HUGH SELBY. Continue reading →

Posted in General articles | 7 Comments

Sue Neill-Fraser book timely as prosecutors in spotlight

Posted on August 11, 2023 by andrew

“Mr Sofronoff deserves the nation’s gratitude for turning our minds to the next issue: the extent to which other prosecutors are sidelining fundamental principles in order to secure convictions …” The Australian, Wednesday, August 9, 2023.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 6 Comments

SPECIAL REPORT – Prosecutors ‘straining impermissibly for a conviction’: eight examples

Posted on August 4, 2023 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban.

Walter Sofronoff KC’s damning findings revealed this week of reprehensible behaviour by ACT DPP Shane Drumgold, is the tip of an iceberg that threatens the criminal justice system. In the words of judges, lawyers and legal academics, some of Australia’s other senior prosecutors also show a flagrant disregard for their obligations by ‘impermissibly straining for a conviction’.  Continue reading →

Posted in General articles | 24 Comments

Sofronoff report damns Drumgold in Higgins/Lehrmann inquiry

Posted on August 3, 2023 by andrew

2/8/2023: The report that was delivered to the ACT government on Monday (31/7/2023) but withheld from public release seems to have fallen into the hands of The Australian’s Janet Albrechtsen and Stephen Rice. Their front page story reveals the damning findings by Walter Sofronoff KC.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 18 Bruce Lehrmann | 14 Comments

Sofronoff report ready but release delayed by ACT Chief Minister; why?

Posted on July 31, 2023 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban

It is delivered today, July 31, 2023, but the ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr “currently intends” to release some or all of the Sofronoff inquiry report into the handling of the Brittany Higgins rape allegations against Bruce Lehrmann and the abandoned trial, at the end of August. No reasons are given. None would be acceptable. Continue reading →

Posted in Case 18 Bruce Lehrmann | 6 Comments

Listen to Lynn, Attorney-General; the public is speaking

Posted on July 30, 2023 by andrew

This compelling and heartfelt letter from Hobart resident Lynn Giddings to Tasmania’s Attorney-General is representative of public demand for a Commission of Inquiry into the case of Sue Neill-Fraser. And below, Giddings witnessed how the jury had been left with a false impression about DNA in the latex glove from the crime scene. It wasn’t Sue Neill-Fraser’s.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 28 Comments

Excuses by Tasmania’s Attorney-General to avoid a Commission of Inquiry into the case of Sue Neill-Fraser are indefensible

Posted on July 21, 2023 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban.

Book him now. He’s moving south. Queensland last year, ACT this year…Tasmania next year? Walter Sofronoff KC will be available to chair a Commission of Inquiry into the case of Sue Neill-Fraser. Excuses by the Attorney-General to avoid one are indefensible.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 14 Comments

THE EXONERATION PAPERS – SUE NEILL-FRASER

Posted on July 19, 2023 by andrew

The new book by investigative journalist, Andrew L. Urban, THE EXONERATION PAPERS – SUE NEILL-FRASER, disputes the Tasmanian Attorney-General’s justification for refusing the many requests for an inquiry into the controversial 2010 murder conviction. Urban also cites lawyers who present a dozen appealable grounds that have not been considered by the courts.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 19 Comments