"Convicted murderer Susan Neill-Fraser has identified three other people who
could have killed her partner Bob Chappell — including a suspected
hitman. In documents lodged with the Supreme Court as part of her bid to
overturn her conviction, Neill-Fraser’s legal team claims to have fresh
evidence that police withheld evidence and bungled forensic tests. Neill-Fraser.
above, is serving 23 years in prison for the murder of Mr Chappell, who
disappeared from the couple’s yacht moored near Sandy Bay, on Australia
Day 2009. His body has never been found. Neill-Fraser has
protested her innocence from the outset and has a determined band of
supporters who have been seeking to clear her name. New
legislation allows a convicted person a final right of appeal to the
Court of Criminal Appeal if there is “fresh and compelling evidence” and
there has been “a substantial miscarriage of justice”.
“There
is fresh and compelling evidence ... regarding persons other than the
applicant who may have had the opportunity to murder or cause the
disappearance of the deceased” In her appeal documents
lodged by former Integrity Commissioner Barbara Etter, Neill-Fraser
names three other people — including one she claims is a hitman.........
A
fresh analysis by forensic science consultant and former top West
Australian homicide investigator Mark Reynolds had debunked the Crown’s
case the DNA was a secondary transfer, but was rather bodily fluids
deposited by direct contact, according to the application. It also
claims fresh analysis of forensic evidence cast doubt on police methods. “In
certain areas of forensic investigation, the application of accepted
forensic techniques ... had not been undertaken with proper attention to
detail or had not been undertaken correctly.” It goes on to say
Neill-Fraser could not have dumped Mr Chappell’s body overboard in the
way police claimed. The analysis claims it would have been “mechanically
impossible for the applicant to have winched the deceased in the
manner described by police”.........If granted leave to proceed, this appeal is a
final avenue for Neill-Fraser to establish her innocence. If successful,
she would be entitled to an acquittal or a new trial."