Solitary confinement in Australian prisons – a study note

Posted on September 5, 2021 by andrew

A further punishment other than that imposed by the courts? A breach of Australia’s international human rights obligations? PETER NORDEN AO explores these questions in the following brief extracts from his paper, published in 2019. Continue reading →

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Sue Neill-Fraser in solitary

Posted on September 5, 2021 by andrew

Sue Neill-Fraser has been moved into solitary confinement for five days from the end of last week and will then move to maximum security, losing all privileges she has earned over the past decade of incarceration.

Neill-Fraser’s daughter Sarah Bowles found out on Saturday. No clear reasons have been given.

The decision to move Neill-Fraser was made on the eve of the Saturday September 4 vigil held outside Parliament, and follows the unorthodox intervention by Police Commissioner Darren Hine the day before, in a statement that rebuts criticisms of the original police investigation and stating as “fact” that Neill-Fraser is guilty. His statement has drawn criticism and surprise.

Needless to say, her family is distraught and concerned that further hardship is inflicted on a woman they consider to have been in prison unjustly for 12 years.

More reporting to come …

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 29 Comments

Tasmania’s legal authorities have something to say about the Sue Neill-Fraser case.

Posted on September 3, 2021 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban.

The Attorney-General, the DPP and the Police Commissioner have something to say about the Sue Neill-Fraser case. We report the following in the wake of much recent public unease and lack of confidence in the guilty verdict delivered 11 years ago.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 9 Comments

Tas Police Commissioner said what?

Posted on September 3, 2021 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban.

The Mercury’s Cameron Whitely reported on September 3, 2021 (online 4.57pm) that Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine “weighed in to the ongoing debate about Sue Neill-Fraser’s murder conviction saying supporters of the convicted killer were making ‘selective arguments’ and that he had confidence in the investigation and legal process.” This will not age well.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 22 Comments

A day in the life – Sue Neill-Fraser

Posted on September 2, 2021 by andrew

Incarcerated in the women’s section of Hobart’s Risdon prison since August 20, 2009, Sue Neill-Fraser is awaiting the outcome of her second appeal against the conviction for a murder she vehemently denies (and many others regard as wrongful). Security regulations prohibit the revelation of specifics about the day to day running of the prison, but her variously moving and entertaining ‘diary’ below, gives us a glimpse into a typical day in her life.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 15 Comments

Tas. Legislative Council hears case to reopen Sue Neill-Fraser appeal

Posted on August 31, 2021 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban

In a significant development in the afternoon of August 31, 2021, in the Sue Neill-Fraser case, Tasmanian Legislative Council member the Hon. Michael Gaffney MLC (Ind), Member for Mersey, devoted his first adjournment speech in 13 years to her case, “first to bring us together to right a wrong and secondly to have the Attorney-General join us in that quest,” tabling the Etter/Selby documents, giving them Parliamentary privilege. Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 34 Comments

60 Minutes shames the law – twice

Posted on August 30, 2021 by andrew

On March 10, 2019, 60 Minutes broadcast a heartwrenching and game changing interview that showed the world how wrongly the courts had convicted Sue Neill-Fraser for the murder of her partner Bob Chappell. On August 29, 2021, 60 Minutes broadcast interviews with medical scientists that showed the world how wrongly the courts had convicted Kathleen Folbigg for the murder of her four young children. The courts have so far refused to correct either of these wrongs.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 17 Kathleen Folbigg | 10 Comments

‘Shaken baby syndrome’ evidence reliability shaken

Posted on August 26, 2021 by andrew

Victoria’s highest court has flagged serious concerns about the scientific diagnosis known as “shaken baby syndrome”, which has been used to prosecute and jail a number of young men for child homicide and abuse in recent years, according to an August 20, 2021 report  in The Age by Chris Vedelgo.   Continue reading →

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Something has to be done

Posted on August 26, 2021 by andrew

Our report (Aug 17, 2021), Wrongful allegation of child sexual abuse as weapon has drawn a heart wrenching response from “MARY”, the wife of a man who she firmly believes has been wrongfully convicted of sexual abuse of a minor. She refers to some of the exculpatory evidence in his case, and pleads on behalf of all men in such situations: “Something has to be done.”  Continue reading →

Posted in General articles | 2 Comments

“Tasmania, we’ve got you cowered”

Posted on August 23, 2021 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban.

What’s with the taboo? Every Tasmanian I’ve spoken to agrees: people feel intimidated talking openly about the Sue Neill-Fraser case, the long-running miscarriage of justice that is a weeping sore on Tasmania’s legal system*. Perhaps that’s why there are no mass protests in the streets? Or maybe Tasmania’s media, also feeling intimidated, haven’t reported the malpractice, incompetence and lies that led to her conviction, as have some of their mainland peers? Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 25 Comments