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

[Lord Peter Flimsy]

I have wondered if she was murdered in late 1997 would the perpetrator be so desperate to try the same conman trick in 1998 and 1999?

 

[gymtonic]

I have wondered if she was murdered in late 1997 would the perpetrator be so desperate to try the same conman trick in 1998 and 1999?

Yes, that has been one of my issues. In terms of escalation of crime pattern it doesn’t fit. Others have said that maybe he intended worse for JO but it seems clear to me that he was trying to ditch JO in the UK once he had clear access. On the other hand we only have a snapshot of those 3 women and maybe there is a bigger pattern with other, as yet unknown, victims.
JMO

 

[KiwiNZ]

Yes, that has been one of my issues. In terms of escalation of crime pattern it doesn’t fit. Others have said that maybe he intended worse for JO but it seems clear to me that he was trying to ditch JO in the UK once he had clear access. On the other hand we only have a snapshot of those 3 women and maybe there is a bigger pattern with other, as yet unknown, victims.
JMO

His plans for JO seemed quite big, he looked to be targeting her house, she would definitely notice that missing if she came home to no home, maybe someone in the UK was meant to knock her off ?

 

[Estelle]

The WOW course I did was in the TAFE building and was a TAFE course.

The others may have just used the TAFE building, but I do remember seeing the courses in the local paper and the courses had a TAFE heading so I would presume they were TAFE courses or organised by TAFE.

I am suggesting there were probably both - mixed classes and also those just for women.

 

[Estelle]

Would that exclude disability pensioners?

I don't know but none of my students were disabled.

 

[gymtonic]

His plans for JO seemed quite big, he looked to be targeting her house, she would definitely notice that missing if she came home to no home, maybe someone in the UK was meant to knock her off ?

But wasn’t his claim that he had been mugged and the documents had been stolen? If anything happened that was linked to the “stolen” documents he would seemingly not be connected?

 

[Estelle]

Sally’s grandfathers notes state Security at the bank had spoken to Marion. How could anyone speak to her by phone? She had sold her house, as far as we know had no mobile phone, and was either staying in a hotel or temporary accommodation. If a change of phone number had been given when taking out the initial withdrawals (which I doubt) surely the new number would be on her bank records?

I assumed that someone impersonating MB phoned them.

 

[Estelle]

The only problem here is that DdH was "grossly overweight" and could never pass for Marion.

How do you know that DdH was "grossly overweight" in 1997?

 

[sah10406]

I have wondered if she was murdered in late 1997 would the perpetrator be so desperate to try the same conman trick in 1998 and 1999?

This has troubled me from the start. Not only does it make me think RB probably didn't kill her, but makes me wonder if he even knew in 98 and 99 that she had died.

 

[Estelle]

This has troubled me from the start. Not only does it make me think RB probably didn't kill her, but makes me wonder if he even knew in 98 and 99 that she had died.

I have always assumed that RB organised a hit man to murder MB in the UK. I actually was suspicious that the so-called "Dutch Dentist" was the hit man who RB paid to murder MB.

 

[Housemartyn]

GDB said that she thought RB had drugged her, to take naked photos of her.. Maybe he did this to MB after she arrived back from UK. Maybe he poisoned her.

 

[mishy66]

The only problem here is that DdH was "grossly overweight" and could never pass for Marion.

That was quoted by one of RB so called 'friends/ associates". I dont believe a thing he and his mates say

 

[mishy66]

His plans for JO seemed quite big, he looked to be targeting her house, she would definitely notice that missing if she came home to no home, maybe someone in the UK was meant to knock her off ?

This is where I stand too. WHY would he fly back to take stock of JO house, if he knows she is alive and coming back to it........ There would have to have been another chapter to his plan for JO -- the thing that saved her was contacting her relative who had the sense to get her back to Aust quickly. Remember RB was very surprised to see her ......


Someone OS is his 'business partner' and this is why he continues with the charade. He is protecting something much bigger than a few scams on innocent women. IMO

 

[Estelle]

JH said she saw the poster when coming home FROM Grafton - I believe she lives in the Byron Bay area

Thats what I heard at 22 mins into the hearing or did I miss something more

I found a FB profile for a JH who lives in Byron Bay. This JH plays golf.

I have become so suspicious of JH that I started wondering if JH and RB were in cahoots.

 

[Deleted member 249471]

Did Marion ever get to mainland Europe? All the postcards and letter home came from England. Why no postcards say from Amsterdam which she mentions in her other postcards?

I personally don't believe she did. But it was an idea he put in her head I imagine, like he did with JO and the French Riviera.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

That was quoted by one of RB so called 'friends/ associates". I dont believe a thing he and his mates say

I remember that in the podcast but does anyone know whether DdH was in fact 'grossly overweight' in the past?

 

[CavKinsk]

How do you know that DdH was "grossly overweight" in 1997?

The description was from a police witness statement of a business owner who knew the couple. It is not my description. Ddh retains a very different body type to Marian to this day.

 

[Lord Peter Flimsy]

Is it 100% certain that Marion’s flight to England did not do a stopover in Japan but Korea instead? The hotel notepaper is of course crucial because it almost certainly puts RB in England with MB. If Marion was trying to keep her tryst secret from her family was it a deliberate or an unwitting mistake? Why not just buy some plain writing paper whilst in Tunbridge Wells?

 

[KiwiNZ]

Is it 100% certain that Marion’s flight to England did not do a stopover in Japan but Korea instead? The hotel notepaper is of course crucial because it almost certainly puts RB in England with MB. If Marion was trying to keep her tryst secret from her family was it a deliberate or an unwitting mistake? Why not just buy some plain writing paper whilst in Tunbridge Wells?

I assume it wasn't a hard thing for the police to check, where that flight landed, also that was the known route for the flight, also on her departure card it stated SK - but I guess we can't rule out that she then flew to Japan from SK, but that would be odd since there was direct flights from Brisbane with JAL

the reference to " interesting visit to the east" has me a bit complexed, she spent some time in the "east" doesn't seem it was just a straight transfer to her UK flight. but doing what ? and with who ? and where in the east

 

[mishy66]

The description was from a police witness statement of a business owner who knew the couple. It is not my description. Ddh retains a very different body type to Marian to this day.

The person was a so called friend of RB who had association through his 'work'......... You only need a face on the license not the full body. Personally I dont think D was ever ' grossly overweight' as this witness said. We have only seen D recently at the inquest. Although from images back in the 80's that we saw and of her relatives, she could pass for MB most definitely. I mean she is married to a fraud who has built his life on fake IDs right.