Andrew L. Urban.
It will be a momentous Thursday (March 21, 2019), in Sue Neill-Fraser’s quest seeking leave to appeal her 2010 murder conviction. Via a sworn affidavit, Meaghan Vass is expected to admit that she witnessed the murder – Neill-Fraser wasn’t there. But this is just one of the troubling cases that litter the landscape of legal mistakes in Australia. Continue reading
Andrew L. Urban.
There are many flaws that have been identified in both the investigation and the trial of Sue Neill-Fraser, sometimes so many that some crucial details are overlooked. We remind our readers of a conflict between what the DPP, Mr Ellis SC, said in front of the jury while speculating about the murder, and what he told the judge – jury absent. Continue reading
Andrew L. Urban.
In the wake of Meaghan Vass admitting her presence at the murder of Bob Chappell on Australia Day 2009, during her interview on 60 Minutes (Sunday, March 10, 2019) – contradicting the murder conviction of Sue Neill-Fraser – police have interviewed her, but no further action is foreseen.
When her guilty verdict was no longer tenable, Lindy Chamberlain was released before her appeal was heard. Could Sue Neill-Fraser ask for the same? Legal academic, Dr Bob Moles*, an authority on wrongful convictions, sets out the scenario, in view of Meaghan Vass admitting on 60 Minutes (March 10, 2019) that she was a witness to the 2009 murder and Neill-Fraser – who was convicted of the murder – was not there.
Andrew L. Urban.
In her emotional 60 Minutes interview last night (Sunday, March 10, 2019, Channel 9), Meaghan Vass told the truth – ‘the objective evidence backs it up’ as Robert Richter QC put it: she witnessed Bob Chappell scuffle with two men on board Four Winds on Australia Day 2009 and Sue Neill-Fraser, who is serving a 23 year sentence for Chappell’s murder,was not there. Continue reading
Andrew L. Urban.
Tasmania’s justice system is taking a battering all of its own making as the truth bubbles to the surface in the much debated and badly miscarried Sue Neill-Fraser case. In denial for a decade about the validity of a stranger’s DNA at the crime scene, the police and the DPP insisted the murderer was Neill-Fraser … the DNA meant nothing. But now they see their case crumble publicly and people are none too happy with the job they have done. Just read what is being said about them. Continue reading
Andrew L. Urban.
On 60 Minutes tomorrow (8.30pm, Sunday, March 10, 2019, Channel Nine), Meaghan Vass will confirm that convicted and jailed Sue Neill-Fraser did not kill Bob Chappell on Australia Day 2009. Vass knows because she was an eye witness, as her on-board DNA indicated, though it was dismissed as a ‘red herring’ by the prosecution for the past 10 years. (promo clip)
Andrew L. Urban.
Journalists (including this one*) have been saying it for years: the 2010 Sue Neill-Fraser murder conviction is wrong. Meaghan Vass’ DNA found at the crime scene (the yacht Four Winds) should have been urgently & thoroughly investigated. In the 7 Network’s 6-part series, Undercurrent (last ep aired yesterday, March 6, 2019), a traumatised Vass reveals her years-long torment of knowing what really happened and how she has thought of convicted and jailed Neill-Fraser every day since, wishing she could “go and unlock the cell door for her”.
The final episode of Undercurrent (7 Network), delving into the case of Sue Neill-Fraser, will be showcased at the Australian International Documentary Conference in Melbourne tonight (March 5, 2019), followed by a Q&A with producer/director Eve Ash and Executive Producer Andrew Farrell (CJZ Productions). Continue reading
Andrew L. Urban.
With the example of three current cases on foot across Australia, the legal system is shown to be dangerously flawed. In each of the three examples, the accused was convicted by a jury – without durable evidence. This is astonishing in law and catastrophic for democracy. And it raises the ever-present question of accountability for the legal profession. Continue reading