Judgment date in Neill-Fraser freedom bid

Neill-Fraser is serving 23 years' behind bars for killing Bob Chappell on the couple's Four Winds yacht moored at Sandy Bay on Australia Day 2009.

Neill-Fraser will be granted leave to appeal if her legal team has managed to convince a judge there is "fresh and compelling" evidence.

Justice Michael Brett will deliver his judgment on whether that's occurred on Thursday afternoon in Hobart Supreme Court.

Much of Neill-Fraser's last-ditch freedom bid, that began in October 2017, has centred around the whereabouts of then-homeless teenager Meaghan Vass, who's DNA was found aboard the Four Winds yacht.

Prior to the appeal bid beginning in court, Vass signed a document saying she was on the boat the night of the murder but backflipped when giving evidence, telling the court it was not true and she put her name to it under threats.

The case was adjourned in February for a decision but was re-opened earlier this month so a new affidavit from Ms Vass about her whereabouts on January 26, 2009 could be included.

A March edition of Channel Nine's 60 Minutes, shown on mainland Australia but not in Tasmania, revealed Ms Vass had made a new affidavit.

The case was set down for a mention on Thursday, but that was changed late on Wednesday to a judgment.

Neill-Fraser's appeal bid has heard from a raft of witnesses including retired Victorian detective Colin McLaren, who was researching and interviewing people linked to the case for a book and documentary.

Director of Public Prosecutions lawyer Daryl Coates has accused Mr McLaren of fabricating Ms Vass's April statement that she was on the boat.

Mr McLaren said he drafted the statement but didn't make it up.

Neill-Fraser was in 2010 found guilty of bludgeoning Mr Chappell and dumping him in the River Derwent.

His body has never been found.

Neill-Fraser has maintained her innocence but several appeals against her conviction have failed.

Australian Associated Press