4 days ago
Woman convicted of murdering partner on yacht files new court bid
A woman convicted of murdering her de facto partner more than 15 years ago has appeared in court challenging the conditions of her parole.
Susan Neill-Fraser was released in 2022 after spending 13 years behind bars over the 2009 disappearance of Robert Chappell from their yacht.
On Wednesday morning, Neill-Fraser and lawyers acting on her behalf appeared in the Hobart Supreme Court seeking to progress an application against the Parole Board of Tasmania.
The woman is seeking to amend her parole conditions that prevent her from speaking to third parties, including the media, to claim her alleged innocence and wrongful conviction.
Legal advocate group the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) is arguing the case on Neill-Fraser's behalf.
HRLC legal director Sarah Schwartz said the application argued that the parole condition was "unreasonable", "improper" and contradicted constitutional rights to freedom of expression.
"Freedom of speech and political communication are core democratic rights that belong to everyone, including and especially people who have been in prison," she said.
"Parole should be a pathway to reintegration, not a way of continuing to impose punishment.
"When parole conditions silence people or limit their freedom of expression, they violate basic human rights and increase the risk of reincarceration."
Lawyers for the parole board indicated they were restricted by caretaker provisions on receiving instructions on how to proceed with the case.
The matter, before Associate Justice Michael Daly, was adjourned until September 10.
Mr Chappell disappeared from the couple's boat, Four Winds, on Australia Day, 2009.
Police soon after charged Neill-Fraser with his murder.
She pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury in October 2010 and sentenced to 26 years' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 18 years.
She has since maintained her innocence and has lodged numerous appeals during her prison term.
An appeal court later reduced her sentence to 23 years, with a non-parole of 13 years.
A woman convicted of murdering her de facto partner more than 15 years ago has appeared in court challenging the conditions of her parole.
Susan Neill-Fraser was released in 2022 after spending 13 years behind bars over the 2009 disappearance of Robert Chappell from their yacht.
On Wednesday morning, Neill-Fraser and lawyers acting on her behalf appeared in the Hobart Supreme Court seeking to progress an application against the Parole Board of Tasmania.
The woman is seeking to amend her parole conditions that prevent her from speaking to third parties, including the media, to claim her alleged innocence and wrongful conviction.
Legal advocate group the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) is arguing the case on Neill-Fraser's behalf.
HRLC legal director Sarah Schwartz said the application argued that the parole condition was "unreasonable", "improper" and contradicted constitutional rights to freedom of expression.
"Freedom of speech and political communication are core democratic rights that belong to everyone, including and especially people who have been in prison," she said.
"Parole should be a pathway to reintegration, not a way of continuing to impose punishment.
"When parole conditions silence people or limit their freedom of expression, they violate basic human rights and increase the risk of reincarceration."
Lawyers for the parole board indicated they were restricted by caretaker provisions on receiving instructions on how to proceed with the case.
The matter, before Associate Justice Michael Daly, was adjourned until September 10.
Mr Chappell disappeared from the couple's boat, Four Winds, on Australia Day, 2009.
Police soon after charged Neill-Fraser with his murder.
She pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury in October 2010 and sentenced to 26 years' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 18 years.
She has since maintained her innocence and has lodged numerous appeals during her prison term.
An appeal court later reduced her sentence to 23 years, with a non-parole of 13 years.
A woman convicted of murdering her de facto partner more than 15 years ago has appeared in court challenging the conditions of her parole.
Susan Neill-Fraser was released in 2022 after spending 13 years behind bars over the 2009 disappearance of Robert Chappell from their yacht.
On Wednesday morning, Neill-Fraser and lawyers acting on her behalf appeared in the Hobart Supreme Court seeking to progress an application against the Parole Board of Tasmania.
The woman is seeking to amend her parole conditions that prevent her from speaking to third parties, including the media, to claim her alleged innocence and wrongful conviction.
Legal advocate group the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) is arguing the case on Neill-Fraser's behalf.
HRLC legal director Sarah Schwartz said the application argued that the parole condition was "unreasonable", "improper" and contradicted constitutional rights to freedom of expression.
"Freedom of speech and political communication are core democratic rights that belong to everyone, including and especially people who have been in prison," she said.
"Parole should be a pathway to reintegration, not a way of continuing to impose punishment.
"When parole conditions silence people or limit their freedom of expression, they violate basic human rights and increase the risk of reincarceration."
Lawyers for the parole board indicated they were restricted by caretaker provisions on receiving instructions on how to proceed with the case.
The matter, before Associate Justice Michael Daly, was adjourned until September 10.
Mr Chappell disappeared from the couple's boat, Four Winds, on Australia Day, 2009.
Police soon after charged Neill-Fraser with his murder.
She pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury in October 2010 and sentenced to 26 years' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 18 years.
She has since maintained her innocence and has lodged numerous appeals during her prison term.
An appeal court later reduced her sentence to 23 years, with a non-parole of 13 years.
A woman convicted of murdering her de facto partner more than 15 years ago has appeared in court challenging the conditions of her parole.
Susan Neill-Fraser was released in 2022 after spending 13 years behind bars over the 2009 disappearance of Robert Chappell from their yacht.
On Wednesday morning, Neill-Fraser and lawyers acting on her behalf appeared in the Hobart Supreme Court seeking to progress an application against the Parole Board of Tasmania.
The woman is seeking to amend her parole conditions that prevent her from speaking to third parties, including the media, to claim her alleged innocence and wrongful conviction.
Legal advocate group the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) is arguing the case on Neill-Fraser's behalf.
HRLC legal director Sarah Schwartz said the application argued that the parole condition was "unreasonable", "improper" and contradicted constitutional rights to freedom of expression.
"Freedom of speech and political communication are core democratic rights that belong to everyone, including and especially people who have been in prison," she said.
"Parole should be a pathway to reintegration, not a way of continuing to impose punishment.
"When parole conditions silence people or limit their freedom of expression, they violate basic human rights and increase the risk of reincarceration."
Lawyers for the parole board indicated they were restricted by caretaker provisions on receiving instructions on how to proceed with the case.
The matter, before Associate Justice Michael Daly, was adjourned until September 10.
Mr Chappell disappeared from the couple's boat, Four Winds, on Australia Day, 2009.
Police soon after charged Neill-Fraser with his murder.
She pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury in October 2010 and sentenced to 26 years' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 18 years.
She has since maintained her innocence and has lodged numerous appeals during her prison term.
An appeal court later reduced her sentence to 23 years, with a non-parole of 13 years.
