Robert Xie conviction requires urgent High Court correction – Part 2: Appeal Court judges erred

Posted on April 24, 2021 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban, Phillip Chapman

 The conviction of Robert Xie for the blood-soaked, savage murder of five members of his wife’s family in 2009 – against his alibi and absent a credible motive – took four trials, including the longest trial in NSW legal history for a single defendant, and over $1 million in costs to the taxpayer. In Part 1 we examined the judge’s role. The subsequent appeal, on eight grounds, against the conviction was dismissed. In Part 2 we examine the role of the Appeal Court judges. Continue reading →

Posted in Case 11 Robert Xie | 6 Comments

Robert Xie conviction requires urgent High Court correction – Part 1: Her Honour erred

Posted on April 23, 2021 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban, Phillip Chapman

The conviction of Robert Xie for the blood-soaked, savage murder of five members of his wife’s family in 2009 took four trials, including the longest trial in NSW legal history for a single defendant, and over $1 million in costs to the taxpayer. But that conviction – going against his alibi and absent a motive – rests on just a couple of elements that the prosecution urged the jury to accept as reliable evidence, to negate Xie’s alibi. We examine the judge’s role.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 11 Robert Xie | 1 Comment

Prosecutor’s allegation haunts forthcoming Jeff Thompson trial

Posted on April 22, 2021 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban

The allegation by Jack Shapiro, a lawyer at the Office of the Tasmanian DPP, that Hobart solicitor Jeff Thompson “duped” a prisoner in the course of working on the Sue Neill-Fraser appeal, is haunting Thompson’s forthcoming trial on charges of perverting justice. The next directions hearing on the matter is listed for next Monday (April 26, 2021); will the court address the allegation against Thompson, who has yet to be tried? Is Shapiro’s allegation likely to ‘poison the jury pool’?  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 34 Comments

Shadow of Doubt – the movie that shone a light

Posted on April 5, 2021 by andrew

As the judges of the Tasmanian Court of Criminal Appeal consider their decision in the case of Sue Neill-Fraser, we publish ANDREW L. URBAN’s review of the Eve Ash documentary, Shadow of Doubt, published on the film’s July 2013 release. The movie alerted the public to the egregious miscarriage of justice that was perpetrated against Neill-Fraser by the Tasmanian criminal justice system.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 12 Comments

The 000 call that rang the wrong alarm

Posted on April 2, 2021 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban

Fire, police, ambulance … and a packet of assumptions, all turned up together at a suburban Sydney house on a hot December afternoon, in response to a 000 call by a woman in a red jumper. That call on December 2, 2013 never really ended until March 30, 2021.  Continue reading →

Posted in General articles | 1 Comment

Dysrationalia can explain wrongful convictions new study shows

Posted on April 1, 2021 by andrew

This 2021 April Fool story has now been taken down.

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Katheleen Folbigg – science misunderstood, legal issues scrambled

Posted on March 28, 2021 by andrew

The Australian Academy of Science issued a strongly worded statement (24/3/2021) immediately challenging the Court of Appeal’s rejection of Kathleen Folbigg’s appeal*, re-stating “there are medical and scientific explanations for the death of each of Kathleen Folbigg’s children”. But the judge on the inquiry had also erred in law, argues Flinders University legal academic DR BOB MOLES.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 17 Kathleen Folbigg | 3 Comments

Meaghan Vass abandoned by the court

Posted on March 27, 2021 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban.

 Our interview with Meaghan Vass, published yesterday, answers the question why she panicked. It doesn’t explain why the entire court abandoned its duty of care to this witness.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 29 Comments

Meaghan Vass – the aftermath interview

Posted on March 26, 2021 by andrew

“My 2019 60 mins interview + affidavit is true and correct.” – Meaghan Vass In the aftermath of the dramatic Tasmanian Supreme Court appeal against Sue Neill-Fraser’s conviction for the murder of her partner Bob Chappell, the key witness, a traumatised and betrayed Meaghan Vass, sought safety and comfort among her close friends. But she agreed to this written Q&A with Andrew L. Urban.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser | 43 Comments

Kathleen Folbigg – science fobbed off; how the law gets a bad name

Posted on March 25, 2021 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban.

When science clashes with the courts and science loses, the rule of law also loses – not to mention public confidence in the criminal justice system.  Continue reading →

Posted in Case 17 Kathleen Folbigg | 5 Comments