Susan Neill-Fraser, a convicted murderer, is currently facing delays in her appeal to amend a parole condition that bars her from speaking to the media about her case. The 71-year-old was sentenced to 26 years for the murder of her partner, Bob Chappell, who went missing from their yacht in Hobart in 2009. Neill-Fraser, who insists on her innocence, served 13 years in prison and was released on parole in 2022.
Her legal team has challenged the parole stipulation restricting her from declaring her innocence and contesting her conviction. The matter was recently presented at the Supreme Court of Tasmania but has been adjourned until September 10 for further administrative discussion, with hopes for scheduling a substantive hearing then. Neill-Fraser’s attorney, Patrick Coleridge, noted that the delays in the case are becoming excessive.
The Human Rights Law Centre, which is advocating for Neill-Fraser, filed legal action against what it describes as an unreasonably restrictive parole condition. During the hearing, Simon Gates, representing the Parole Board of Tasmania, mentioned he was only present as a courtesy, as he had not received instructions from the attorney-general amidst Tasmania’s current political instability following an inconclusive election.
On the matter of the media ban, Coleridge is seeking more information from the parole board to support Neill-Fraser’s case. Outside the court, Rosie Crumpton-Crook, leader of a support group for Neill-Fraser, expressed frustration over the slow progress of the proceedings.
Neill-Fraser’s conviction involved allegations of her attacking Chappell aboard the yacht, disposing of his body, and attempting to sink the vessel to eliminate evidence. Although she has filed multiple appeals against her conviction, including one in the High Court, all have been rejected.
Critics argue that the media prohibition breaches the constitutionally implied freedom of political communication, a stance strongly vocalised by Neill-Fraser’s supporters. At a rally earlier this year, her daughter, Sarah Bowles, highlighted the significant restrictions her mother faces under parole, including being unable to leave the state or communicate with the public about her situation. The ongoing challenges encapsulate the complex intersection of justice, rehabilitation, and personal freedom within the Australian legal system.