SUSAN BLYTH Neill- Fraser's refusal to help locate the body of her partner she murdered shows a lack of remorse, a court has heard.
Sentencing submissions were heard yesterday in the Supreme Court in Hobart - three days after a jury found Neill-Fraser guilty of murdering her de facto partner of 18 years, missing medical scientist Bob Chappell.
The Crown argued Neill-Fraser dumped Mr Chappell's body in the Derwent River after killing him on board their yacht Four Winds on Australia Day last year.
His body has never been found.
The 56-year-old maintains her innocence.
Director of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis yesterday told the court Neill-Fraser could alleviate the suffering of Mr Chappell's children if she helped locate the body.
"The prisoner has shown no remorse, she has not accepted responsibility," he said.
Neill-Fraser shook her head throughout the submission, mouthing "so wrong" to her ex- husband Brett Meeker and daughters, who sat daily through the four- week trial.
Mr Chappell's children did not lodge victim impact statements.
Defence counsel David Gunson, SC, said Neill-Fraser had led a "blight-free life".
"The prisoner maintains her innocence," he said.
Justice Alan Blow will hand down his sentence on October 27.
Neill-Fraser's daughter, Sarah Bowles, said outside the court she had visited her mother at the Women's Prison during the weekend.
"She's really just in a state of shock, disbelief, disgust but also determination I think that we're quite ready to start fighting this one and keep going," Mrs Bowles said.
She reiterated her mother's innocence, saying her family had "no idea" what had happened to Mr Chappell.
"We have no idea what's happened to Bob, how can we know," she said.
She said it was "extremely traumatic" to mourn the loss of their father figure of 18 years alongside dealing with their mother's charges.
"For me I took a lot of my life advice and support and what's led me to my career now from Bob, so it's very painful to see his character being represented in this light that not necessarily being a true reflection of how I think his personality was," she said.
Mrs Bowles said they were yet to look into avenues for appeal.
