Andrew L. Urban.
As the late author and thinker Christopher Hitchens famously noted, ‘What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.’ Not in the Tasmanian legal system, it can’t. Hence the tortuous, 11-year legal journey of Sue Neill-Fraser, convicted in 2010 of murdering her partner Bob Chappell on Australia Day 2009. Now it’s up to the three appeal judges. So while we wait … Continue reading
Andrew L. Urban
Science – the word, that is – has been bandied about a lot lately, from climate change arguments to Covid restrictions and in the criminal justice system. Now the latter faces a major test: will our legal structures ‘follow the science’ and accept that The System got it wrong, Kathleen Folbigg did not murder her four babies? Will she be freed? Or will proper science be defied? Continue reading
Andrew L. Urban.
On Tuesday, DPP Daryl Coates SC, from whom the soured milk of human unkindness oozed like puss, was relentless in exploiting the vulnerability of Meaghan Vass and her distressing emotional unraveling to achieve his objective: damage or destroy the credibility of her testimony in the appeal court. Continue reading
Andrew L. Urban.
Sue Neill-Fraser’s legal team conceded before lunch on Day 2 of the appeal against her murder convction, that Meaghan Vass, highly stressed and agitated from the beginning, was delivering testimony during cross examination that would not be considered reliable, removing her testimony from the grounds of appeal – and focusing on the fresh new DNA evidence. Continue reading
Andrew L. Urban
When At 11.50 am on Monday March 1, 2021, at the Sue Neill-Fraser appeal in Hobart, Meaghan Vass replied ‘Yes’ to the first question put to her by Robert Richter QC, the pent up anticipation of a five year wait since the appeal process began, was released. Richter had asked her to confirm that she was indeed on board the Four Winds, as her DNA showed, when and where Neill-Fraser was alleged to have murdered Bob Chappell. Continue reading
Andrew L. Urban.
For the benefit of members of the public following the Sue Neill-Fraser appeal (against her 2010 conviction for the murder of her partner Bob Chappell) in Hobart’s Supreme Court commencing Monday, March 1, 2021, we have compiled a brief check list to help follow the proceedings – in person or via the media. Continue reading
One of the prominent barristers who has always maintained that Sue Neill-Fraser’s murder conviction is unsustainable, Melbourne based Robert Richter QC, has announced in the Tasmanian Court of Criminal Appeal today via videolink from Melbourne that he will lead her appeal team at the hearing starting on Monday, March 1, 2021. Continue reading
Special National Investigation by Andrew L. Urban
It is reasonable to argue that those wrongfully convicted of a serious crime who are genuinely innocent are the most deserving of parole. The cruel irony is that they are the least likely to be eligible, if a) the victim’s body has not been found or b) if they do not admit to the crime (such as murder) because of their claim to be innocent. Does this meet society’s expectations? Is it just? Continue reading
Sue Neill-Fraser’s Melbourne-based instructing solicitor, Paul Galbally’s travel hopes to attend her new appeal against her 2010 murder conviction in Hobart’s Supreme Court from March 1 improved markedly today as Tasmania lifted the high risk level restrictions on travellers from Victoria, no longer requiring a 14 day quarantine on arrival. Barrister Tom Percy QC from Perth, is also free to travel to Tasmania without restrictions. Continue reading
Our wrongfulconvictionsreport ‘sleuths’ have helped investigate this case in the past (see here and here). PHILLIP CHAPMAN, DR ROLAND ZHANG and DR PETER YOUNG are helping us again, with references to evidence from the autopsies and a secret phone. Continue reading