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

[Liselle]

I've never used TROVE before. Has anyone searched the phone number or PO Box RB used through old newspapers?

@Nnbee I am often searching Trove when something relevant comes up, using multiple search parameters. The advertisement placed in the Dutch Weekly (1996) by a lady looking for a companion, I only found yesterday!

 

[Eyespywithmylittleeye]

They have both been on the pension since 1986 when they returned to Australia. Never worked a decent day in their lives. The carer's pension really irritates me, when he was perfectly fine to go trotting off to Europe alone 2-4 times a year. How much care did he need? Filing? Answering service? Pfft...

Wow that’s insane. Sounds like rort to me

 

[KiwiNZ]

I think AC said his flights were $300-400 return with JAL. That's a HUGE discount on the normal rate.
RB tried to deflect by saying he often flew "one-way" but AC immediately corrected him, saying the prices were for return tickets.
LE know how much he was paying! So now he has to explain why, hence the Meiji and mysterious director story

Just listening again - day 8 around 2.55hrs

RB volunteered the information about paying - $300-$400 - it sounded like he made this up on the spot IMO , while trying to divert AC's line of questioning on something else

Later he also threw in the Accountant paid the airfares by posting him the money - Arand Renez (?) Ath, Belgium -

I cant see anyway LE would know how much an individuals ticket cost them in the 90's, I feel the ticket cost was a made up amount by RB, because now he has to balance what he says with the fact he has had his hand in the tax payers pocket for 30 years and cant look like he had money to travel. I think AC knows the discount is a lie but he is using it in the questioning to try and trap RB in his own lie

Any one know why he likes to fly into Perth (?) his last flight in 2012 he returned into Perth.

Also sounded like he sometimes left from Cairns (?)

Every time I listen I hear something new lol

 

[Estelle]

Yes, @centred I should have added these are the current regulations, so just a broad description. But the average disability pension rate between 1995-2000 was $154/week, so there would be lots of "going without" to afford the many (albeit unnecessary IMO) air trips undertaken!

I think this is shaping part of his story - he knows he will be in trouble if they find out he had money he did not declare -


Just listening again - day 8 around 2.55hrs

RB volunteered the information about paying - $300-$400 - it sounded like he made this up on the spot IMO , while trying to divert AC's line of questioning on something else

Later he also threw in the Accountant paid the airfares by posting him the money - Arand Renez (?) Ath, Belgium -

I cant see anyway LE would know how much an individuals ticket cost them in the 90's, I feel the ticket cost was a made up amount by RB, because now he has to balance what he says with the fact he has had his hand in the tax payers pocket for 30 years and cant look like he had money to travel. I think AC knows the discount is a lie but he is using it in the questioning to try and trap RB in his own lie

Any one know why he likes to fly into Perth (?) his last flight in 2012 he returned into Perth.

Every time I listen I hear something new lol[/QUOTE]

Yes I have often wondered why he flew into Perth when his destination was Sydney. The airfare from Perth to Sydney used to be quite expensive. He could have caught a train or gone by coach across but that was a long journey. Was there much difference in cost between flights to Perth as opposed to Sydney?

 

[Estelle]

IMO the main thing they could be charged for is pension fraud so far.

 

[KiwiNZ]

double post

 

[KiwiNZ]

There are a couple of things interesting about JAL. First, his prior JAL trips were booked as round trips. The one with Marion was not. .

Was that discussed at the inquest, I can't remember or haven't come across a reference to return trips V's one ways. Do we know that his 97 trip ( with Marion) was one way only ?

My understanding is that LE only have in and out bound from Aus, not all countries keep records so its hard to piece the full flight together, having left and returned on the same airline is a good indication that it was a round trip ticket but also not guaranteed.

 

[centred]

Yes, @centred I should have added these are the current regulations, so just a broad description. But the average disability pension rate between 1995-2000 was $154/week, so there would be lots of "going without" to afford the many (albeit unnecessary IMO) air trips undertaken!

I think this is shaping part of his story - he knows he will be in trouble if they find out he had money he did not declare -


Just listening again - day 8 around 2.55hrs

RB volunteered the information about paying - $300-$400 - it sounded like he made this up on the spot IMO , while trying to divert AC's line of questioning on something else

Later he also threw in the Accountant paid the airfares by posting him the money - Arand Renez (?) Ath, Belgium -

I cant see anyway LE would know how much an individuals ticket cost them in the 90's, I feel the ticket cost was a made up amount by RB, because now he has to balance what he says with the fact he has had his hand in the tax payers pocket for 30 years and cant look like he had money to travel. I think AC knows the discount is a lie but he is using it in the questioning to try and trap RB in his own lie

Any one know why he likes to fly into Perth (?) his last flight in 2012 he returned into Perth.

Also sounded like he sometimes left from Cairns (?)

Every time I listen I hear something new lol[/QUOTE]

Yes i have wondered why more things re inquest haven't been questioned more over the past weeks .
I still haven't found out why he claimed MB came to his house to collect her goods with the other man (pilot ) then we heard him answer the questions about the last time he seen her was at her property while she was packing after selling the house and nothing much was said ?

Why the total contradiction ? Which is the lie ? it cannot be both ? Well I am sure the story about the pilot picking up her stuff is total BS .....It is just bizarre telling 2 different stories ?

edit to add
i do not know why this didn't tag correctly

 

[Estelle]

Was that discussed at the inquest, I can't remember or haven't come across a reference to return trips V's one ways. Do we know that his 97 trip ( with Marion) was one way only ?

My understanding is that LE only have in and out bound from Aus, not all countries keep records so its hard to piece the full flight together, having left and returned on the same airline is a good indication that it was a round trip ticket but also not guaranteed.

I didn't think that RB returned to Sydney on his last leg on JAL in 1997, did he?

 

[BonnieB]

Was that discussed at the inquest, I can't remember or haven't come across a reference to return trips V's one ways. Do we know that his 97 trip ( with Marion) was one way only ?

My understanding is that LE only have in and out bound from Aus, not all countries keep records so its hard to piece the full flight together, having left and returned on the same airline is a good indication that it was a round trip ticket but also not guaranteed.

Considering he is still wanted in France & Belgium, I imagine LE in Europe might be co-operating with Australian LE. He is facing 9 yrs in prison if they ever catch him over there. No doubt that is why he always flew in & out of Amsterdam. He's been dodging LE, Immigration, Centrelink and irate victims all his life - no wonder he's changed identity & moved so often. IMOO

 

[KiwiNZ]

I didn't think that RB returned to Sydney on his last leg on JAL in 1997, did he?

I might have missed that part, I am not sure where he returned to on the 1997 flight - I am still listening, might get to that part lol

He kind of babbles that sometimes the out going flights to Japan where Ex - Carins (?)

And AC said his flight in 2012 returned via Perth ( was that his daughters wedding ? ) wouldn't surprise me if he got a separate flight to them, in case he had issues

I don't know but is it easier to transition through international customs if you arrive into the airport on a domestic flight ??

In NZ you can't as our domestic and international airports are in different locations so you have to physically go through the whole check in process at international But in some countries when I have arrived on a domestic flight and transitioned through to international I have thought " I feel like I have missed a whole process " - hope that makes sense

 

[MrsWattle]

@Nnbee I am often searching Trove when something relevant comes up, using multiple search parameters. The advertisement placed in the Dutch Weekly (1996) by a lady looking for a companion, I only found yesterday!

The NLA have micro film archives available for the Gold Coast Bulletin. I wonder if the romance scammer personals ads have any PO Box reply ads. I might try have a look but really I'm hoping someone knows how to search more efficiently than me.

Gold Coast bulletin [microform] | National Library of Australia

 

[gymtonic]

IMO the main thing they could be charged for is pension fraud so far.

Plus the citizenship fraud that was looked at all those years ago?

 

[BonnieB]

Plus the citizenship fraud that was looked at all those years ago?

Plus entry to Australia on his cousin's passport

 

[mishy66]

My own view not shared by all is that Marion never saw the FR ad in 1994. It was such a niche obscure French monthly publication in Australia and Marion’s French was limited. Would she even bother looking at a publication where she wouldn’t understand much of it and find a lonely hearts ad inside also in French?

If she had seen it in 1994 why would it have taken 3 years for the sting to occur? We know Marion’s behaviour started to change in late 1996 and IMHO Mr aka was frequenting public places such as the Arts Centre prowling for single middle-aged women. For example if Marion was sitting alone having a coffee would she object to a similar aged French speaking charmer asking if he could sit at the same table as her? It could be as simple as that.

I agree @Lord Peter Flimsy with this theory. I also don't believe MB responded to any ad and the RB already had her in his sights through some other association.

 

[mishy66]

Any one know why he likes to fly into Perth (?) his last flight in 2012 he returned into Perth.

Every time I listen I hear something new lol

W's have family there....

 

[KiwiNZ]

[/QUOTE]


I still haven't found out why he claimed MB came to his house to collect her goods with the other man (pilot ) then we heard him answer the questions about the last time he seen her was at her property while she was packing after selling the house and nothing much was said ?

Why the total contradiction ? Which is the lie ? it cannot be both ? Well I am sure the story about the pilot picking up her stuff is total BS .....It is just bizarre telling 2 different stories ?
[/QUOTE]

I am confident both are a lie lol.. the last time he saw her was when he fleeced her of everything she had after returning from a trip to the UK, I dread to think what actually happened the last time he saw her, but it was neither of the 2 scenario's he gave (IMO of course)

 

[lrb66]

I still haven't found out why he claimed MB came to his house to collect her goods with the other man (pilot ) then we heard him answer the questions about the last time he seen her was at her property while she was packing after selling the house and nothing much was said ?

Why the total contradiction ? Which is the lie ? it cannot be both ? Well I am sure the story about the pilot picking up her stuff is total BS .....It is just bizarre telling 2 different stories ?
[/QUOTE]

I am confident both are a lie lol.. the last time he saw her was when he fleeced her of everything she had after returning from a trip to the UK, I dread to think what actually happened the last time he saw her, but it was neither of the 2 scenario's he gave (IMO of course)[/QUOTE]
IMO RB has listened to TLV podcast and is implying Marion has run off with the pilot mentioned. So he is off the hook??
I wonder whether this was contained within his June 2021 statement which he is now trying to say he has not given to police. It places Marion at his home??
I am not sure whether RB’s alleged visit to TSS school with Marion after her resignation was also contained with this statement?? Why does he want to place himself at TTS??
Does he have something that belongs to TSS in his possession??
Or is it just more extraneous fiction?
MOO

 

[BonnieB]

I still haven't found out why he claimed MB came to his house to collect her goods with the other man (pilot ) then we heard him answer the questions about the last time he seen her was at her property while she was packing after selling the house and nothing much was said ?

Why the total contradiction ? Which is the lie ? it cannot be both ? Well I am sure the story about the pilot picking up her stuff is total BS .....It is just bizarre telling 2 different stories ?

I am confident both are a lie lol.. the last time he saw her was when he fleeced her of everything she had after returning from a trip to the UK, I dread to think what actually happened the last time he saw her, but it was neither of the 2 scenario's he gave (IMO of course)[/QUOTE]
IMO RB has listened to TLV podcast and is implying Marion has run off with the pilot mentioned. So he is off the hook??
I wonder whether this was contained within his June 2021 statement which he is now trying to say he has not given to police. It places Marion at his home??
I am not sure whether RB’s alleged visit to TSS school with Marion after her resignation was also contained with this statement?? Why does he want to place himself at TTS??
Does he have something that belongs to TSS in his possession??
Or is it just more extraneous fiction?
MOO[/QUOTE]

IMO, when the Police knocked on his door last June it took him totally off guard. After 24 years of silence, he was absolutely confident that he got away with everything concerning MB.
His first reaction - deny everything! Then he did some fast googling and he listened to the podcast. Realizing that LE could connect him to MB, he came up with the first version of his story, hoping he could place all suspicion on the mysterious pilot. He was in damage control and didn't know for sure what witnesses or evidence LE and SL had to connect him so he tried to cover all possible bases.
As time passed and he realized LE had very little solid proof, he re-wrote his story to fit, what he thought, were the known provable facts.
With no credible way to explain his first 'fairytale', he took the ludicrous option of denying he ever made that statement in June thereby suggesting LE fabricated the statement and tricked him into signing it. His solicitor disappeared!
Now, we wait, and hope he hasn't covered all bases! 15 days to go...

 

[TootsieFootsie]

You've posted my exact thoughts on what transpired.

IMO, when the Police knocked on his door last June it took him totally off guard. After 24 years of silence, he was absolutely confident that he got away with everything concerning MB.
His first reaction - deny everything! Then he did some fast googling and he listened to the podcast. Realizing that LE could connect him to MB, he came up with the first version of his story, hoping he could place all suspicion on the mysterious pilot. He was in damage control and didn't know for sure what witnesses or evidence LE and SL had to connect him so he tried to cover all possible bases.
As time passed and he realized LE had very little solid proof, he re-wrote his story to fit, what he thought, were the known provable facts.
With no credible way to explain his first 'fairytale', he took the ludicrous option of denying he ever made that statement in June thereby suggesting LE fabricated the statement and tricked him into signing it. His solicitor disappeared!