QUOTES OF THE DAY: "Rosie Crumpton-Crook, president of the Neill-Fraser Support Group, said she shared Ms Ash’s concerns – and added any inquiry needed to be “much wider” than that announced by Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine on Wednesday. “Members of the Neill-Fraser Support Group have been calling for an independent Commission of Inquiry for many years because we only have confidence in an inquiry that would be held outside of the Tasmanian system,” she said. State MP Kristie Johnston said the whole matter “stinks of incompetence and cover-up”, adding “the integrity of police is in shreds. "She said there were “serious questions” over whether an inquiry commissioned by Tasmania Police itself could be independent, and given Mr O’Farrell had rejected assertions in the past that Tasmania Police had acted improperly in the Neill-Fraser case. “Former Solicitor-General Michael O’Farrell cannot bring an objective and independent mind to this inquiry,” she said. “Mr O’Farrell, in his former role as Solicitor-General, has been closely linked to the Neill-Fraser case and as such is not independent. The government must immediately establish a commission of inquiry to investigate this and all aspects of the Susan Neill-Fraser conviction because the public deserve to know the truth and have confidence in the justice system.”
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STORY: “Concerns raised over review into Tasmania Police’s use of covert recording devices," by Reporter Amber Wilson, published by 'The Mercury' on September 2, 2022. (Thanks to 'Networked Knowledge' for bringing this story to our attention."
GIST: Concerns have been raised over an independent review of Tasmania Police’s use of covert recording devices. The fears were flagged by supporters of convicted murderer Sue Neill-Fraser, plus several Tasmanian lawyers and politicians over the review, which will be conducted by former Solicitor-General Michael O’Farrell SC.
In 2017, while acting in that role, Mr O’Farrell expressed confidence in Tasmania Police and its ability to investigate matters in the Neill-Fraser case. Now, in the independent review, Mr O’Farrell will be called upon to review the force’s use of a covert recording device to secretly record a conversation between Neill-Fraser’s former lawyer and a potential witness in her second murder appeal.
When questioned by the Mercury, Mr O’Farrell declined to comment on the concerns raised. But Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson said it was “quite proper” that Tasmania Police had appointed Mr O’Farrell, who he said was “very independent of government and a respected legal mind as well”.
Filmmaker Eve Ash, who has produced a documentary and television series that question whether Neill-Fraser did in fact murder her partner Bob Chappell, said her concerns arose out of a letter she received from Mr O’Farrell in 2017.
Mr O’Farrell’s letter came in response to a report by Ms Ash, crime writer and former detective Colin McClaren and high-profile lawyer Robert Richter QC provided to the acting Attorney-General, the Premier and Mr O’Farrell when he was in the role of Solicitor-General, about the investigation of the Neill-Fraser case.
“The usual and proper authorities to deal with matters of this nature are the police and the Director of Public Prosecutions. Any suggestion that Tasmania Police are somehow incapable of investigating matters of this nature is entirely rejected,” he said. “The state has every confidence in Tasmania Police and its ability to investigate matters raised in this report.”
Rosie Crumpton-Crook, president of the Neill-Fraser Support Group, said she shared Ms Ash’s concerns – and added any inquiry needed to be “much wider” than that announced by Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine on Wednesday.
“Members of the Neill-Fraser Support Group have been calling for an independent Commission of Inquiry for many years because we only have confidence in an inquiry that would be held outside of the Tasmanian system,” she said.
State MP Kristie Johnston said the whole matter “stinks of incompetence and cover-up”, adding “the integrity of police is in shreds”.
She said there were “serious questions” over whether an inquiry commissioned by Tasmania Police itself could be independent, and given Mr O’Farrell had rejected assertions in the past that Tasmania Police had acted improperly in the Neill-Fraser case.
“Former Solicitor-General Michael O’Farrell cannot bring an objective and independent mind to this inquiry,” she said. “Mr O’Farrell, in his former role as Solicitor-General, has been closely linked to the Neill-Fraser case and as such is not independent. The government must immediately establish a commission of inquiry to investigate this and all aspects of the Susan Neill-Fraser conviction because the public deserve to know the truth and have confidence in the justice system.”
Ms Johnston’s thoughts were echoed by Independent state MLC Meg Webb, who called on the government to refer the matter to the Integrity Commission.
Their comments followed concerns raised by Greg Barns SC that the review had been commissioned at the request of Tasmania Police itself – and not from an external body.
Fabiano Cangelosi, Hobart barrister and spokesperson for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, also said this week that a full commission of inquiry was needed.
Mr Ferguson said the independent investigation was the right way forward rather than calling on another body like the Integrity Commission.
The review of Tasmania Police’s use of covert recording devices, to be conducted by Mr O’Farrell, was announced this week in the wake of revelations Tasmania Police left a surveillance device running at a prison meeting room – under an invalid warrant – continuously for two months.
While it was intended to record only a conversation in June 2017 between Neill-Fraser’s former lawyer Jeffrey Ian Thompson and a potential witness to her second murder appeal, it recorded all conversations in the room until that August."
The entire story can be read at:
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue/resurce. 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;
