Friday, February 23, 2018

Susan Neill-Fraser: Australia: On-going "last chance" appeal. Significant Development? (Another twist in this suspicious death at sea case (among many others, including new DNA evidence): Police claim to have two films - said to have come into their posession in the last two weeks - which they say are important, ABC News reports. Adjournment granted. (Neill-Fraser is serving a 23-year jail sentence for the 2009 murder of her partner Bob Chappell onboard their yacht moored off Hobart.)..."The Crown had previously advised the court that they would not be calling any of its own witnesses in the appeal. But today the court heard four new Crown witnesses would be called, in addition to the cross-examining of Detective Shane Sinnitt. Detective Sinnitt was one of the investigators on the original murder investigation, and was also involved in last year's investigation into allegations that three people attempted to pervert the course of justice in relation to the appeal application. It is understood the two recordings were some of the items seized during raids on CJZ productions in Sydney in November last year. It was reported at the time that the seized footage had been for a Seven Network "true crime" series."


STORY: "Sue Neill-Fraser murder appeal: Police reveal new recordings and witnesses, delaying case, by reporter Edith Bevin, published by ABC News on February 21, 2018.
GIST: "The last-chance appeal of convicted killer Sue Neill-Fraser has been adjourned again after revelations police obtained two films that the DPP says are "significant and important evidence".
Neill-Fraser is serving a 23-year jail sentence for the 2009 murder of her partner Bob Chappell onboard their yacht moored off Hobart. She exhausted all other avenues of appeal, and is now relying on new last-chance appeal laws to have her convicted quashed. The application for the new appeal is part heard, and was due to return to court on Friday, but the court heard today the DPP will tender two films that have come into the possession of police. The DPP said the film recordings had only come to light in the past two weeks, but it meant Neill-Fraser's lawyers needed more time to see them and talk to people in them. The application will go back before the court in March. Crown will now call more witnesses; The Crown had previously advised the court that they would not be calling any of its own witnesses in the appeal. But today the court heard four new Crown witnesses would be called, in addition to the cross-examining of Detective Shane Sinnitt. Detective Sinnitt was one of the investigators on the original murder investigation, and was also involved in last year's investigation into allegations that three people attempted to pervert the course of justice in relation to the appeal application. It is understood the two recordings were some of the items seized during raids on CJZ productions in Sydney in November last year. It was reported at the time that the seized footage had been for a Seven Network "true crime" series. It is understood the Crown intends to tender the recordings to the court through Detective Sinnitt during cross-examination. Neill-Fraser team needs time to review films..." The hearing will now be set down for March 8 and 9, when the court will hear evidence from Neill-Fraser's winching expert, and the DPP's four witnesses. It will then be adjourned to a date yet to be set for Detective Sinnitt to give evidence and the recordings to be tendered."

The entire story can be  found at:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-21/police-reveal-recorded-tapes-in-neil-fraser-murder-appeal-case/9471254

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy; Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.