Judges human too

THE recent passing of Cardinal Pell is a vivid reminder that the legal system does occasionally get it wrong, and the release on parole of Sue Neill-Fraser changes nothing.

While the High Court is justifiably seen as a repository of the best intellects of Australia, and the greatest care is taken to keep it that way, it is made up of people who are human, with human fallibilities. In Pell’s case, the court acted decisively to correct what it recognised as an injustice after its examination of all the processes, but it has declined to re-examine the trial processes which led to the conviction of Mrs NeillFraser.

In her case, we are asked to believe that a middle-aged lady of frail build was able to bludgeon to death a male of average build within the confined space below decks of their yacht, and then proceed to dispose of the body.

This would be an absurd proposition in any circumstances, particularly so as no murder weapon was ever found, although it was suggested that a large wrench might have been used to kill him. Neither weapon nor body has ever been located, so there has never been an opportunity to inspect a body with a view to guessing the nature of any supposed attack, and in fact this proposition was made up during the course of the court proceedings.

It seems, therefore, that the only remaining option to Mrs NeillFraser, and her many supporters, wishing in the public interest to ascertain the real truth of the matters which have led to Mr Chappell’s disappearance, is the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry, similar to that which led to the clearing of the name of Lindy Chamberlain. David Keyes

Austins Ferry