Australia Australia - Marion Barter, 51, missing after trip to UK, June 1997 #6

[poppypopcorn]

Who knows. The whole thing is clear as mud. I haven't been watching the livestream as I am in the UK, but from what I've read all the questioning so far is around events in Australia, nothing at all about travel to the UK.

 

[Lord Peter Flimsy]

However, I would have assumed that Marion knew him by M Fernand Nikolaus Remakel which was a name he used on his Driver’s licence and a surname she adopted. He only returned to Australia using Richard Lloyd Westbury so I wonder why he needed to use a British sounding name for that?

However, I would have assumed that Marion knew him by M Fernand Nikolaus Remakel which was a name he used on his Driver’s licence and a surname she adopted. He only returned to Australia using Richard Lloyd Westbury so I wonder why he needed to use a British sounding name for that?

I wonder if Marion actually flew with him on the journey from Japan to London Heathrow? I suspect if she did she never saw his new alias on the passport & ticket.

If they were travelling together at some point in the UK Richard Westbury would be a lot more inconspicuous than Fernand Remakel.

 

[Bibno]

I have no understanding of Austalian law, I'm in the UK, and so that might be why I'm puzzled by the Inquest.

I'm managing to follow the content of the, and I know that the purpose of the Inquest is to establish whether or not Marion Barter is living or has died. I assume there is no evidence that RB has committed any crime against Marion Barter, otherwise I expect he would have been charged already. So I'm wondering what is the basis for his inclusion in this process.

Just watching the live streams, the information is presented without any broader context, so it's up to us to infer why RB has been included, which is quite easy. There is also information from witnesses with whom he has had other similar relationships, I assume to demonstrate that he had a track record of befriending vulnerable women.

I just don't understand why the Inquest is the place for revealing this information and investigating his character, this wouldn't be the place to accuse him of anything, would it?

It's fascinating to me, but I can't understand why the police aren't just working on either finding evidence to charge him, or eliminating him. Doesn't including him in the Inquest give him a bit of a heads up that he is under suspicion of something (if he is), and doesn't this give him more opportunity to do adopt a new guise and do a runner?

I know that often Police don't want to alert a suspect to the fact that they are under suspicion, but possibly they may be hoping that the publicity brings out more witnesses or jogs memories.

Can anyone explain this to me, I'm sure I'm just missing something?

 

[Estelle]

I wonder if Marion actually flew with him on the journey from Japan to London Heathrow? I suspect if she did she never saw his new alias on the passport & ticket.

If they were travelling together at some point in the UK Richard Westbury would be a lot more inconspicuous than Fernand Remakel.

I wondered if RB and MB met in Korea then flew to Japan and then to England.
Remember the comments about Korean food? Yes I guess he could get away with using passports in two different names but he would have to think of some reason not to have to check in with her and not go through customs with her.

 

[KiwiNZ]

I wondered if RB and MB met in Korea then flew to Japan and then to England.
Remember the comments about Korean food? Yes I guess he could get away with using passports in two different names but he would have to think of some reason not to have to check in with her and not go through customs with her.

I thought they said his flight as direct to Japan (?) , Marion's to Korea( ?)

I wondered if Marion ever went to Japan, or if the hotel letterhead she wrote on was from RB, seems like a kleptomaniac so probably takes the shampoo and bathrobes as well from a hotel.

 

[Deleted member 249471]

I have no understanding of Austalian law, I'm in the UK, and so that might be why I'm puzzled by the Inquest.

I'm managing to follow the content of the, and I know that the purpose of the Inquest is to establish whether or not Marion Barter is living or has died. I assume there is no evidence that RB has committed any crime against Marion Barter, otherwise I expect he would have been charged already. So I'm wondering what is the basis for his inclusion in this process.

Just watching the live streams, the information is presented without any broader context, so it's up to us to infer why RB has been included, which is quite easy. There is also information from witnesses with whom he has had other similar relationships, I assume to demonstrate that he had a track record of befriending vulnerable women.

I just don't understand why the Inquest is the place for revealing this information and investigating his character, this wouldn't be the place to accuse him of anything, would it?

It's fascinating to me, but I can't understand why the police aren't just working on either finding evidence to charge him, or eliminating him. Doesn't including him in the Inquest give him a bit of a heads up that he is under suspicion of something (if he is), and doesn't this give him more opportunity to do adopt a new guise and do a runner?

I know that often Police don't want to alert a suspect to the fact that they are under suspicion, but possibly they may be hoping that the publicity brings out more witnesses or jogs memories.

Can anyone explain this to me, I'm sure I'm just missing something?

There is still an active investigation by police aside from the inquest. With inquest, they know exactly where he is. As a witness, he is revealing new things police did not know. It's a good way to interrogate him in a way they wouldn't necessarily be able to do if charged. An inquest needs to happen one way or another, and he is involved regardless. The inquest could potentially be paused at any time while criminal charges are laid and until prosecution process is finalised. Unfortunately, one might assume they either don't have enough to prosecute right now, or they are strategically waiting after his testimony.

It is possible that at the end of inquest, Coroner determines Marion is deceased with likely involvement from RB or whoever. Which can't be enforced but the family could then pursue in civil court (I think).

 

[sunnynz]

I posted earlier today that there’s a new podcast episode up but my post got deleted because there was no link. Here’s the link for those who don’t know how to find the podcast! The Inquest: Part 7 - The Lady Vanishes

 

[Meligator]

I wondered if RB and MB met in Korea then flew to Japan and then to England.
Remember the comments about Korean food? Yes I guess he could get away with using passports in two different names but he would have to think of some reason not to have to check in with her and not go through customs with her.

Yes, interesting that RB brought up Marions "interest" in Korea. I suspect that there are kernels of truth in his story but also embellishments to cover his own nefarious actions. Perhaps her going to S. Korea would tie him to her somehow (did he meet her there) & he is directing investigators away by suggesting she just stopped there because she likes Korean culture. It's also possible that he's done this con with so many women that its hard remember/separate the details for each woman.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

The Lady Vanishes podcast

The Inquest: Part 7 Episode 26 The Inquest Part 7 Feb 3rd 2022

The Lady Vanishes on acast Showing all the episodes. Scroll down a bit.

My favourite podcast sita is Acast. You don't need to register. All the episodes are shown on the same page.

 

[Itsapuzzle]

Just putting up some pics again of some of the missing items from Marion's shipping container. I wonder if these items would have been sold overseas or just locally. The attached pictures are the Norman Lindsay Don Juan in Hell, the Royal Doulton old balloon seller figurine, and the framed Jamie Boyd, I think it's called Vase of Flowers lithograph (100 produced)

 

[Deleted member 249471]

He couldn't use a Remakel passport because he did not have one, just had a QLD licence.

Authorities checked and found no Remakel's travelling through Aus since the 1980s, and there was never a passport used in Aus for FNM Remakel (other than Marion), as the previous Remakel's had different initials.

I also remember that Marion insisted no one go with her to the airport. It's still possible RB did travel with Marion on a different alias we don't yet know about, in other words, flew out on Westbury and straight back in on another, so that it was clear he didn't travel with her. Or there is an accomplice that flew with Marion.

 

[Seriallyaddicted]

yes but i believe an alias as well

Might be! I guess a bit of ancestry work to be done!

Just putting up some pics again of some of the missing items from Marion's shipping container. I wonder if these items would have been sold overseas or just locally. The attached pictures are the Norman Lindsay Don Juan in Hell, the Royal Doulton old balloon seller figurine, and the framed Jamie Boyd, I think it's called Vase of Flowers lithograph (100 produced)

I wonder if any of the items he brought home for a period of time and his family recognizes one of them.

 

[Deleted member 249471]

Forgot to mention... if RB lies to the Coroner, they can add perjury to his rap sheet

 

[Itsapuzzle]

Might be! I guess a bit of ancestry work to be done!


I wonder if any of the items he brought home for a period of time and his family recognizes one of them.

Good point Seriallyaddicted, could very well be recognised, or maybe even gifted at some point to a lady friend. With the new leads someone connected could recognise these items.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

NSW Coroners Marion Barter Inquest Day 4 Friday 4th February 2022

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

So exciting! Here's my take: police uncovered Blum by investigation, maybe through tracing the Remakel personal ad. Continued investigation. Called Blum to be a witness at inquest. Blum lawyered up.

My understanding: inquest is to ascertain Marion's status as living or dead. Then if dead and if considered criminal and there is enough evidence to hold someone accountable, then a trial.

Finally! As a logic puzzle, imho, Marion changing her name to Remakel directly implicates Blum. Why else would she choose a name he had once used? Furthur circumstantially incriminating, the close plane flights. I pray the police can build a case.

((Finally, finally: check out TINDER SWINDLER and THE PUPPET MASTER on Netflix. Both documentaries reminded me of Marion's case. ))

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Stream started

 

[KiwiNZ]

GGB - statement was taken 03 Nov 2020 ? so these dots were starting to join way back then ?

 

[Belleandsebastian]

Aliases:

Ric Blum (current name / inquest witness name)
Willy Wouters (arrived in Aus name 1969, alleged birth name, f A.Wouters, m M.Coppenolle)
Frederick David de Hedervary (Aus citizenship name 1976)
Roger Lauzoney / Lazoney (convicted in Luxembourg 76/77, claimed was born 1945 Morocco but found with Aus de Hedervary passport on him)
Chaim Frederick David Dehedervary (NSW drivers license 1985)
M Fernand Nikolaus Remakel (QLD license ?, Le Courier ad 1994)
Richard Lloyd Westbury (passport name returned to Aus 1997 around time Marion returned)
Willy David Coppenolle (CBA mid 2010s)

Ricky David
Fredie David
David Gordon de Hedervary
Cham / Chaim de Hedervary
Cham / Chaim Frederick David
Cham / Chaim David
Bernard Dupont
Christopher Dupont
Tony Greca
Christopher Stein
Fleming / Flemming
Wilson

*Updated thanks to StrangerDanger

You can add 'Ric West' to this list.

 

[vivienbee]

Oh lord, the technical issues, I feel like this part is gonna take a long time to get through.