Thursday, August 10, 2017

Susan Neill-Fraser; Australia; Major Development; ABC News reports that a woman has been charged with perverting the course of justice in connection with the case..."Karen Patricia Nancy Keefe appeared in court this morning charged with corrupting a witness and perverting the course of justice. Police allege the 41-year-old agreed to accept property and money totalling almost $100,000 in return for providing false evidence and convincing another to do the same in Neill-Fraser's appeal. Police said she agreed to receive $3,000 cash, a $40,000 reward for information in the murder, and a $50,000 education fund for her and two children. In return Keefe would allegedly have given false evidence about Neill-Fraser and a girl whose DNA was found at the scene, knowing it would result in that girl giving false evidence in the appeal. Keefe is understood to be an acquaintance of Neill-Fraser but police are not alleging that Neill-Fraser knew or encouraged what Keefe was allegedly doing."..."Outside court, Neill-Fraser's daughter Sarah Bowles — who has led the campaign to have her mother freed — said she was not aware of payments being made to witnesses. "No we [the family of Neill-Fraser] have not been arranging for witnesses to be paid," she said. "I am not prepared to comment while the matter is before the courts. "All I know is that we have DNA evidence that backs up witness statements and it is really important that the right to appeal legislation is tested in the appropriate forum."


STORY: "Sue Neill-Fraser case: Woman charged with perverting the course of justice," by reporter Edith Bevin, published by ABC News on August 9, 2017.




GIST: Tasmania Police have charged another woman in connection with the murder of Bob Chappell in Hobart eight years ago. Susan Neill-Fraser, 62, is currently serving a 23-year jail term for the murder of her partner Mr Chappell on board their yacht 'Four Winds' moored off Sandy Bay in January 2009. She has a last-ditch appeal before the Supreme Court in Hobart. Karen Patricia Nancy Keefe appeared in court this morning charged with corrupting a witness and perverting the course of justice. Police allege the 41-year-old agreed to accept property and money totalling almost $100,000 in return for providing false evidence and convincing another to do the same in Neill-Fraser's appeal. Police said she agreed to receive $3,000 cash, a $40,000 reward for information in the murder, and a $50,000 education fund for her and two children. In return Keefe would allegedly have given false evidence about Neill-Fraser and a girl whose DNA was found at the scene, knowing it would result in that girl giving false evidence in the appeal. Keefe is understood to be an acquaintance of Neill-Fraser but police are not alleging that Neill-Fraser knew or encouraged what Keefe was allegedly doing. Keefe did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody. Daughter not aware of witness payments: Outside court, Neill-Fraser's daughter Sarah Bowles — who has led the campaign to have her mother freed — said she was not aware of payments being made to witnesses. "No we [the family of Neill-Fraser] have not been arranging for witnesses to be paid," she said. "I am not prepared to comment while the matter is before the courts. "All I know is that we have DNA evidence that backs up witness statements and it is really important that the right to appeal legislation is tested in the appropriate forum." Police said the investigation was ongoing and may result in further charges being laid. Lengthy court process. Susan Neill-Fraser lost one appeal against her conviction and the High Court refused to hear another but she launched a fresh bid for freedom using new last-chance appeal laws introduced by the Tasmanian Government. That appeal was due to be heard this month but at the request of Neill-Fraser's advocates it was adjourned to a date yet to be set. Neill-Fraser supporters are understood to have a new witness who allegedly heard a homeless girl say she had been on board the yacht. That girl's DNA was found by police on the yacht at the time."

The entire story can be found at:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-10/sue-neill-fraser-case-karen-patricia-nancy-keefe-charged/8792274

See (July 4  story on departure of Neill-Fraser's instructing solicitor Barbara Etter from Neill-Fraser's  legal team  - several weeks before the above story  about alleged witness tampering appeared - at the link below..."The appeal hearing was set down for four weeks starting later this month but the Supreme Court has just been told Neill-Fraser will not be ready, after solicitor and former Integrity Commission chief Barbara Etter left the case last month."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-04/sue-neill-fraser-appeal-adjourned-indefinitely/8677986

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.