Karen Patricia Nancy Keefe has been charged with three counts of perverting the cause of justice, one count of corrupting a witness, and one count of firearm trafficking.

The state has alleged Ms Keefe agreed to accept money for falsifying evidence and convincing another person to do the same to assist Neill-Fraser’s appeal.

Ms Keefe appeared in Hobart Supreme Court on Friday for a directions hearing where it was heard that the matter would need to be put off until August to allow for ongoing discussions between prosecution and defence teams.

But Ms Keefe argued that if she was to be remanded in custody until then, it would be 12 months she had been in custody without getting to a trial.

She was remanded in custody when bail was refused by the Magistrates Court on August 9 last year with 18 days left on her sentence for driving offences.

Justice Pierre Slicer said he would take an unusual step and let her prepare a bail application to be heard on Friday, June 8.

He said it would be at least six months before her matter went to trial at this stage and it was likely she could serve her sentence, if found guilty for the crimes, even before a trial was held.

“If you are going to trial, I’m going to need a good reason to grant you bail,” Justice Slicer said.

Neill Fraser’s last-ditch appeal against her 23-year murder conviction will be heard later this month.