Neill-Fraser, currently incarcerated in the Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison for the 2009 murder of her partner Bob Chappell, has protested her innocence and thanked her supporters in the letter this week provided to the Mercury.In under a fortnight’s time, Neill-Fraser will attempt to clear her name before a panel of Tasmanian judges in the Court of Criminal Appeal, arguing she has “fresh and compelling” evidence to exculpate her.The five-day hearing will begin on March 1, and will hinge on the evidence of then-homeless teenage girl Meaghan Vass.Read Neill-Fraser’s letter below:To supporters,Preparing to write this, I looked back over a decade’s worth of correspondence, press releases, and also revisited certain court (ouch!) documents. Most of you are already familiar with what happened on Australia Day 2009, my partner of nearly 20 years, Robert Chappell (Bob), went missing off our boat, moored off Battery Point, and has not been seen since. Nor has his body been found.Months later I was arrested, charged with murder. Initially, I was not afraid. I had done nothing wrong and expected to be swiftly exonerated, but as the weeks lengthened into months, then years, I experienced some very bewildered, dark days. The case was entirely circumstantial. How much longer will Bob and I have to wait for justice?I owe a huge debt of gratitude to members of the support group. It started out modestly. Lynn Giddings, Sam Stark, Jennie Herrera and a few other stalwart souls who sat through the trial became increasingly alarmed by the tone of proceedings. After conviction, Lynn brought her considerable political acumen and justice system experience to bear, and with others formed the support group.Vigils and gatherings were held, signs made, funds raised and information leaflets printed with a small army of volunteers delivering them to sometimes “unwilling” letterboxes. And it worked. Public awareness grew with others alerted to the fact that something had gone terribly wrong.I still find it almost overwhelming that members of the group have been prepared to give up so much of their time and energy whilst continuing to provide the moral and emotional support that has helped sustain me all these years. I am so very grateful to you all. And to those of you who have only recently taken an interest in the case: thank you for joining us in the fight for justice.Sue Neill-FraserTwitter follow Amber Wilson



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