A final appeal against the murder conviction of Sue Neill-Fraser will go ahead in October, despite three witnesses crucial to her defence being charged this month with perverting the course of justice.
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Neill-Fraser, 62, is serving 23 years in prison for the murder of her partner, Bob Chappell, who disappeared from the couple's yacht, the Four Winds, while it was moored off the Hobart suburb of Sandy Bay on January 26, 2009.
Fairfax Media revealed on Tuesday that Neill-Fraser's last bid for freedom would rely heavily on information in a "white paper", a confidential dossier that her supporters believe contains enough fresh evidence to support her appeal.
A statutory declaration in the dossier signed by Tasmanian woman Meaghan Vass states that she was on the yacht on the night of the disappearance but Neill-Fraser was not there.
Neill-Fraser appeared before Justice Michael Brett in Hobart Supreme Court on Wednesday via videolink.
Her lawyer, Tom Percy, said events since the case was last before the court in June meant her legal team would seek an adjournment to gather further advice about how those matters would affect witness testimonies.
Police this month charged Karen Patricia Nancy Keefe with perverting the course of justice, accusing her of providing false evidence in an affidavit relating to Neill-Fraser and corrupting a witness.
It is alleged that Ms Keefe agreed to receive $93,000 in exchange for an understanding that a certain witness would give false evidence during a hearing.
A 57-year-old Hobart man has been charged with perverting the course of justice and a 51-year-old Hobart man has been charged with influencing a witness to manufacture evidence.
Justice Michael Brett said those were not matters that should adjourn proceedings for a long time in Neill-Fraser's case.
A hearing over four days from October 30 was set.
Neill-Fraser's last-ditch effort to be cleared of the murder conviction has been permitted through state legislation enacted in 2015 that allows for a second appeal involving "fresh and compelling evidence".
Appeals have already failed in the Court of Appeal and the High Court of Australia.
Neill-Fraser's court appearance on Wednesday came a day after Fairfax Media revealed that Melbourne barrister Robert Richter had provided new evidence to Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman and acting-Attorney General Matthew Groom that questioned the murder conviction.
Mr Richter had pushed at the May meeting for an independent inquiry to be established.
On Wednesday Mr Hodgman said he could not comment on the report as the matter was before the courts.
"I'll say very clearly though that the advice that I have received is that there is nothing before government that would warrant an independent inquiry," he said.
With Nick McKenzie, Richard Baker and Launceston Examiner
