Australia Australia - Marion Barter, 51, missing after trip to UK, June 1997 #12

[MrsEmmaPeel]

In the PROSECUTORS*** podcast which has a 2-part summary of Marion's case, there are several things worth sharing.

1. "The victims of catfishing schemes aren't stupid, they are hurting." (direct quote.) Marion may have been lots of good things, but she also had her weaknesses and frustrating qualities-- which led to her middle-aged loneliness and fear.

2. This case would never have gotten this far without the TLV podcast. Once the police believed Marion had been contacted and asked to be left alone, there was nothing left to do. There simply was no case.

3. There is enough circumstantial evidence to bring Wonka to trial for Marion's disappearance. Much of this circumstantial evidence hinges on the rarity and coincidence of the Remakel name. When only two people in Australia are connected by the name and one of them is missing, the other knows where she is.

**** A Prosecutor in US court system is the lawyer who presents the case against the defendent. The podcasters are prosecutors in real life.

 

[CoCo319]

Inquest into the disappearance of Marion Barter (aka Florabella Natalia Remakel) - Day ten

Live in 11 hours.

April 27 at 10am

I was looking for what time it started and I knew someone on here would have this info! 10am in what time zone, please? I can't believe I'm so excited for this, lol.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Hi Coco,
The time zone is AEST, Australian Eastern Standard time.
It's a bit after 4am now, so 6 hours till the inquest begins at 10am, Wednesday 27th April.

I'm excited too, maybe why I woke up, just a couple of hours after I went to sleep.

I was looking for what time it started and I knew someone on here would have this info! 10am in what time zone, please? I can't believe I'm so excited for this, lol.

 

[Satchie]

With regards to TLV podcast, it has been too long and drawn out for me to listen to the whole thing, but it's a handy source of info, both the beginning for the basics that Sally already knew, and the inquest which I didn't watch or find another summary elsewhere.

IMO the Prosecutors do exceptionally thorough research, normally not relying on other podcasts to churn out the same info, but in this case it was all in TLV so IMO, they paid for that assistance in praise.

To me, the biggest credit for a break in the case goes to the amateur sleuthers who knew how to search those obscure digitatized journals and found the ad. I believe several sleuthers found it at the same time and shared the info with TLV.

I believe police saw that ad, and had access to private Australian databases to track down and prove it was RB, link him to the flights, etc. They may have followed up on previous complaints, or his flight history, to find the other women who were scammed.

So I see TLV as having captured sleuthers attention on the case, which generated the crucial evidence of the ad, but the police took it from there.

What I'm curious about now is, what tips came into police as a result of the MSM coverage of the inquest, that they've been able to follow up and will, I hope, present now.

JMO

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Latest News - NSW Police Public Site


Reward increased to $500,000 for information into 1997 disappearance of Marion Barter

Wednesday, 27 April 2022 04:16:18 AM

 

[Satchie]

I have so many -- probably unpopular-- thoughts at this point of the case. My deepest sympathy is with Sally and her long-suffering family. Marion's actions, as innocent as they may have been, made her daughter's and grandchildren's lives a kind of hell. It makes me think of a therapist I had years ago, who told me, be careful what you pursue, because it will become your life. In my case, it was about writing about my childhood abuse. He warned me that forever, I would be known as that abused child if I chose to write publicly about it. He is right. Sally will forever be THE LADY VANISHES's daughter, Marion Barter's daughter, and that will be a burden to bear no matter what the outcome of this inquest. I pray for her that whatever outcome there is, she can find peace in the last half of her life.

I agree. Also, IMO, no matter what Sally finds out about what happened, IMO there are still those fundamental actions of her mother, which were to keep secrets and, it seems, tell lies.

Especially upsetting since, if Marion had said what was really going on, Sally could probably have saved her.

We all have to face that our parents are flawed humans, but realizing there was an absence of trust and honesty is, in my experience, corrosive, even to our formerly happy memories.

It's so sad that people like Marion seem to go off chasing childish romantic dreams of happily ever after, when they have real treasures right where they are: children, parents, job, home, a secure future. They throw it all away for an impossible fantasy.

JMO

 

[KeenSleuth17]

Latest News - NSW Police Public Site


Reward increased to $500,000 for information into 1997 disappearance of Marion Barter

Wednesday, 27 April 2022 04:16:18 AM

Wow this is interesting! I am always intrigued about them making these announcements at the re-commencement of proceedings!

 

[KeenSleuth17]

Latest News - NSW Police Public Site


Reward increased to $500,000 for information into 1997 disappearance of Marion Barter

Wednesday, 27 April 2022 04:16:18 AM

Wow this is interesting! I am always intrigued about them making these announcements at the re-commencement of proceedings!

 

[KeenSleuth17]

I agree. Also, IMO, no matter what Sally finds out about what happened, IMO there are still those fundamental actions of her mother, which were to keep secrets and, it seems, tell lies.

Especially upsetting since, if Marion had said what was really going on, Sally could probably have saved her.

We all have to face that our parents are flawed humans, but realizing there was an absence of trust and honesty is, in my experience, corrosive, even to our formerly happy memories.

It's so sad that people like Marion seem to go off chasing childish romantic dreams of happily ever after, when they have real treasures right where they are: children, parents, job, home, a secure future. They throw it all away for an impossible fantasy.

JMO

So true and so sad. It must hurt Sally’s heart every day thinking not only about who took her mother away from her and why, but also why her mother chose to deceive her. The whole saga will have caused such damage, especially the arduous process and the amount of time it has taken, the significant events in her life marred by sadness. There will be a lot of healing to do soon.

edited - spelling

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

With regards to TLV podcast, it has been too long and drawn out for me to listen to the whole thing, but it's a handy source of info, both the beginning for the basics that Sally already knew, and the inquest which I didn't watch or find another summary elsewhere.

IMO the Prosecutors do exceptionally thorough research, normally not relying on other podcasts to churn out the same info, but in this case it was all in TLV so IMO, they paid for that assistance in praise.

To me, the biggest credit for a break in the case goes to the amateur sleuthers who knew how to search those obscure digitatized journals and found the ad. I believe several sleuthers found it at the same time and shared the info with TLV.

I believe police saw that ad, and had access to private Australian databases to track down and prove it was RB, link him to the flights, etc. They may have followed up on previous complaints, or his flight history, to find the other women who were scammed.

So I see TLV as having captured sleuthers attention on the case, which generated the crucial evidence of the ad, but the police took it from there.

What I'm curious about now is, what tips came into police as a result of the MSM coverage of the inquest, that they've been able to follow up and will, I hope, present now.

JMO

I'm glad you clarified what I said. I was relaying what THE PROSECUTORS podcast said in regards the power of TLV podcast to get sleuthers and the police involved. I don't know the timeline of when the personal ad was found-- whether it came from the Facebook group publicity or TLV. You're absolutely right that the credit belongs to the sleuthers and to the police willing to listen and act. However, the publicity generated helped get those things done.

 

[poppypopcorn]

The time difference between UK and Aus is 2 hours less than it was the last time the inquest was held. When it's winter here (UK), Aus is 11 hours ahead which meant that the inquest was underway around 11pm our time. Now it's summer here, we've put our clocks forward, Australia has put theirs back, and it's 9 hours. So Mr Blum won't be making his appearance until 1am my time which is far too late. I will be checking back in the morning for a summary!

 

[Deleted member 249471]

Morning all The next three days are all about RB.

Casselden needs to question him thoroughly about his involvement with Marion, his movements during June to November 1997, and clarify any loose ends. Then Smith and the others can ask him questions too. As far as we know, there won't be any other witnesses.

A Casselden – representing the Coroner, puts the inquest together and presents it to the court
B Smith – representing Sally, family of missing person Marion
K Burke – representing NSW Police Commissioner, GS and GC
? – representing Ric Blum

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Link to the Inquest.
6 minutes to go.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Waiting...

 

[Deleted member 249471]

Basic timeline from June to November 1997

17 June 1997
Richard Westbury departs Aus to Japan.
Passenger card says he intends to spend 30 days in Belgium.

22 June 1997
Marion departs Aus on a Korean Airlines flight to South Korea.
Passenger card says divorced and moving permanently to Luxembourg.

31 July 1997
Richard Westbury returns to Aus.

2 August 1997
Marian returns to Aus on a Cathy Pacific flight from Hong Kong.
Passenger card says married, resident of Luxembourg and visiting family in Aus for 8 days.

7 August 1997
Cancellation of Marion's RACQ membership and roadside assistance policy.

11 August 1997
The dH family buy a second car, a white Mitsubishi Magna.

13 August 1997
Marion’s Medicare card is used at optometrist at Grafton Shoppingworld.

28 August 1997
Initial Byron police notes state $80k was wired, possibly overseas.

Aug - Sept 1997
$5k withdrawn daily for 3.5 weeks at CBA Byron (and 3 days in middle at Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast), totalling between $85k to $120k.

15 October 1997
$80k withdrawn from Colonial Ashmore (Marion's regular branch).
There's also some mention of Commonwealth bank transfer.

18 October 1997
Owen’s birthday. No one's heard from Marion.

30 November 1997
The dH family sell their white Mitsubishi Magna.
Around this time they move back to Ballina after almost a year in Wollongbar.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Something happening

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Stream will start shortly

 

[TootsieFootsie]

It's on

 

[caitlincurious]

Here we go. Seeing Casseldon again is oddly comforting

 

[chloborose]

At least he’s saying ‘Yes’ to a lot of things that took him a while to answer last time. Hoping he’s more direct today so things can move quicker