Australia Australia - Marion Barter, 51, missing after trip to UK, June 1997 #15

[KiwiNZ]

But it does sound like she wants to clear her name, imply she did what was required and doesn't feel anything dodgy happened. Her motivation to give evidence, IMO, seems aimed at suggesting Marion retuned and was alive years after.

Bizarre since she had no reason to clear her name, had she of not re-contacted the police with further information the police would not have contacted her and she wouldn't be part of the inquest.

She put herself there but for what reason .... gosh I wish I knew

 

[Deleted member 249471]

Bizarre since she had no reason to clear her name, had she of not re-contacted the police with further information the police would not have contacted her and she wouldn't be part of the inquest.

She put herself there but for what reason .... gosh I wish I knew

I know, right?! I have sooooo many questions. The whole thing is very odd.

We often talk about witnesses who change their story. That applies here too. Why was it so important for JH to change her story? How does she benefit from suddenly opening a door she firmly closed? Repeatedly closed, I might add.

 

[Deleted member 249471]

Ok, I've though of something...

One of the aims of the inquest is to determine whether Marion is likely alive or not.

When the inquest last wrapped up, evidence was leaning towards 'likely deceased' as no-one had seen her, she has not used her Marion or Florabella ID or benefits, she left significant money in a bank and untouched superannuation.

The court also heard that the last person to see Marion was likely RB - someone with a known criminal history for being a con artist. Typically, the last person to spend time with a deceased person is often elevated to a person of interest.

This new testimony suggests that Marion was possibly seen years later, doing a course for people returning to work.

So JH's changed statement could appear to have the intention of throwing a spanner in the works and taking the heat of RB?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

As the Inquest went on, I wondered what the point of it was.
My aha moment was the witness saying they "thought" they had seen her years later. Who would benefit from this except RB.
This could be what may introduce a doubt in someone's mind. The doubt that RB was the last one to see her.
He and his lawyers will be all over this.
His lawyers may think that a bank teller is a step up from friends or a neighbour who said they saw Lynette Dawson.
It must have been a shock to them when Chris Dawson was found guilty, without there being a body, and with those sightings not believed.

Maybe the witness did come forward because she believed she did have something important to say about Marion.
The Coroner must have thought it was important enough to let her have her chance in Court.

But I don't see how she would think it was enough to get the reward.

I believe she believes what she believes, but it still could have been someone impersonating Marion at the bank.
And plenty of times people mistake someone they see for someone else, as in the Tafe thing.

 

[Mamasleuthin]

Ok if she was seen at a TAFE course which one and when so they can check records? I did courses back in 2000 and 2001 and they still have those records so surely they can dig up the enrolment name list somewhere.

 

[DK007]

I know it seems JH testimony wasn’t particularly helpful, but it is!

If JH testimony is reliable, it seriously brings into question whether someone was impersonating MB.

For example… a woman with tan skin, brown eyes, who she possible saw years later, around 60s at a ‘return to work’ TAFE course.

If this was Marion, then it suggests she made a new ID for herself but stayed in the area where people recognised her. This new ID would not have been a formal change of name from Marion or Florabella as there are no records of that. But a new ID to ‘return to work’ would suggest a bank account, driver’s licence and insurance, and a superannuation account. How can a regular person like Marion, who has no history of dodging rules or authorities, obtain those things in a devious and unofficial way? If she did it to ‘start a new life away from her family’ then why chose to live so nearby? Why didn’t she end up in Bali or Europe as some people said she intended to?

So, if this is not Marion, then someone that lived in the area was impersonating her that happened to ‘return to work’ on her own name.

Note that Centrelink sometimes requires you to undertake courses for you to keep receiving benefits for which you need a proper ID and bank account.

Alternatively, if JH testimony is mad

 

[DK007]

It’s been noted MB has green/hazel eye colour. JH recalls MB having brown eye colour. Would anyone know DDH eye colour?

 

[Deleted member 249471]

Who knows?! Maybe the visit to Grafton optometrist was to pick up coloured contact lenses?

 

[KiwiNZ]

As the Inquest went on, I wondered what the point of it was.
My aha moment was the witness saying they "thought" they had seen her years later. Who would benefit from this except RB.
This could be what may introduce a doubt in someone's mind. The doubt that RB was the last one to see her.
He and his lawyers will be all over this.
His lawyers may think that a bank teller is a step up from friends or a neighbour who said they saw Lynette Dawson.
It must have been a shock to them when Chris Dawson was found guilty, without there being a body, and with those sightings not believed.

I don't know how inquest works, does all lawyers (Sallys and RB's) have access to all police files ? would they have even known she gave a statement, who decides what and who should be included, I assume it is different to criminal court ?

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Who knows?! Maybe the visit to Grafton optometrist was to pick up coloured contact lenses?

Not sure there were coloured contacts back then.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Not sure there were coloured contacts back then.

Yes they were. The first coloured contact lenses were used in Hollywood movies in the 1930s
Coloured contacts were first available to the general public in the1980s.

When Were Colored Contacts Invented?

Colored contact lenses have come a long way. They have evolved to meet aesthetics need. But did you know when were colored contacts invented?

blog.uniqso.com

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Yes they were. The first coloured contact lenses were used in Hollywood movies in the 1930s
Coloured contacts were first available to the general public in the1980s.

When Were Colored Contacts Invented?

Colored contact lenses have come a long way. They have evolved to meet aesthetics need. But did you know when were colored contacts invented?

blog.uniqso.com

Oh wow thanks for this info - I am old enough to remember when the fad of coloured contacts started and thought it was more like the 00s. However, maybe that's when they became less expensive to the average person.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Oh wow thanks for this info - I am old enough to remember when the fad of coloured contacts started and thought it was more like the 00s. However, maybe that's when they became less expensive to the average person.

I didn't remember exactly how long they've been available, but it did seem like an 80s thing.

I remember some 80s pop stars "changing" their eye colour for videos. I think that's when I first realised it was possible.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I had no idea about them using them in the 1930s though.

 

[KathPlumber]

Up until we’ll into the 2000s they were very uncomfortable, $$ and borderline impossible to wear (speaking from personal experience)

 

[oc1234]

I didn't remember exactly how long they've been available, but it did seem like an 80s thing.

I remember some 80s pop stars "changing" their eye colour for videos. I think that's when I first realised it was possible.

In the early 90s in SoCal, I had tinted contacts (as did some of my friends) that would enhance your natural color as my daily wear lenses. However, I don't recall the color changing lenses being readily available (the tinted ones were popular and displayed at most Optical shops). However, if you were seeking out the color changing lenses I am guessing they were available particularly for theatre/costume applications. Just thinking about it now - I have green eyes, I wonder IF I had worn blue tinted lenses if they would have made my eyes look brown?

 

[KiwiNZ]

I don't know how inquest works, does all lawyers (Sallys and RB's) have access to all police files ? would they have even known she gave a statement, who decides what and who should be included, I assume it is different to criminal court ?

Coroners decide who should give evidence as witnesses at an inquest. Witnesses will first be questioned by the Coroner, and there may be further questions by 'properly interested people' or their legal representatives. Person's with a 'proper interest' include: relatives of the deceased.

The preliminary investigation and gathering of evidence for the coroner is generally conducted by the police under the coroner’s instruction

 

[Mamasleuthin]

Did anyone see last night on the MPMB page a post was put on there saying that the water people know what happened to her and wish they would have believed the info.

 

[DK007]

Did anyone see last night on the MPMB page a post was put on there saying that the water people know what happened to her and wish they would have believed the info.

Could you please explain who are the water people, first time I’m hearing this. Thanks in advance

 

[DK007]

In the early 90s in SoCal, I had tinted contacts (as did some of my friends) that would enhance your natural color as my daily wear lenses. However, I don't recall the color changing lenses being readily available (the tinted ones were popular and displayed at most Optical shops). However, if you were seeking out the color changing lenses I am guessing they were available particularly for theatre/costume applications. Just thinking about it now - I have green eyes, I wonder IF I had worn blue tinted lenses if they would have made my eyes look brown?

I have brown eyes and used non prescription blue coloured contacts lenses and my eye colour looked real, this was in 1999