NEILL-FRASER CASE TWIST

POLICE have charged a Risdon Vale woman with providing false evidence in the appeal of the high-profile murder case of Susan Neill-Fraser.

In the latest twist in the case, Karen Patricia Nancy Keefe, 41, was charged with perverting justice, corrupting a witness and unlawful trafficking in firearms in relation to alleged offences between last November and this month.

Ms Keefe faced the Magistrates Court in Hobart yesterday before deputy chief magistrate Michael Daly.

On the perverting justice charge, police allege Ms Keefe provided false evidence in the form of an affidavit including evidence relating to Neill-Fraser and Meaghan Elisabeth Vass.

On the corrupting a witness charge, police allege Ms Keefe agreed to receive $3000 cash in property, a $40,000 reward and a $50,000 education fund for herself and her children “in consideration for an understanding that Meaghan Vass be called as a witness, in a judicial proceeding, to provide false evidence”.

Police said investigations were ongoing and further charges may be laid.

In what has become one of Tasmania’s most notorious murder convictions, Neill-Fraser is serving 23 years for the 2009 Australia Day killing of her partner Bob Chappell aboard a yacht in the River Derwent.

New legislation has enabled her supporters, whose campaign to have her freed was rejected on appeal and in the High Court, to launch a lastditch attempt at overturning what they say is a wrongful conviction.

Last month, Channel Seven’s Sunday Night reported a new witness had come forward with details of private conversations with Ms Vass, the then 15-year-old homeless teenager whose DNA was discovered on board the couple’s yacht, Four Winds.

Sunday Night revealed Ms Vass had also been called to testify at Neill-Fraser’s upcoming Supreme Court appeal hearing, but the TV program was unable to interview her for legal reasons.

Ms Vass had previously denied being on board the Four Winds, and police have said the DNA sample was believed to be a secondary transfer.

Neill-Fraser’s daughter Sarah Bowles said she was very concerned by the turn of events.

Ms Bowles said she would not comment on what Ms Keefe’s case may mean for her mother’s appeal.

“I’m not prepared to comment while the matter is before the courts — all I know is we have DNA evidence that backs up witness statements and it’s really important the right to appeal legislation is tested in the appropriate forum,” she said outside the Magistrates Court yesterday.

Ms Keefe’s case was adjourned until August 24 and she was remanded in custody.