Australia Australia - Marion Barter - Missing After Trip to UK - June 1997 #17

[Lord Peter Flimsy]

I tend to agree. Not about DH (I’m on the fence there, erring in the side of her having some knowledge) But Def in relation to the ‘children’. He’s a con artist. I can imagine him being convincing about all his ‘inheritance’.

The children might not have known or perhaps had a suspicion as they grew older. The podcast The Clearing is the story of a daughter who went to the police after suspecting her father was a murderer years after the events. It’s entirely possible the children witnessed things that seemed innocent at the time but might mean something more sinister on reflection years later.

 

[ruby925]

I can understand why you say that. I have swung a number of times between the extremes of her knowing much of went on (it went on for decades and she knew of his previous criminal activity in Europe) or being totally oblivious. I listened to a bit of her inquest evidence again yesterday and IMHO she deliberately obfuscates to some of ACs questions. Whether that constitutes a guilty conscience I’ll let everyone else form their own opinion.

MOO but DDH may have chosen not to know about RB's 'income'. IMO some wives/husbands choose 'not to know' about their partner's infidelity and maintain the status quo and lifestyle. This may be the first time that DDH has been confronted by police/court of her husbands's career of crime...I don't think she will throw him under the bus at this stage, and the children probably won't either (whether they knew anything or not). IMO obvs.

 

[KT Can]

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/curious-case-of-the-alleged-conman-ric-blum-and-the-missing-coins/news-story/75a0af3d1d80460df8611985d264ec9f?amp

It’s the conman’s collection – a combination of unusual artefacts and rare coins traced back to alleged serial fraudster Ric Blum.

<modsnip: Direct quotes or copy/paste of content or images from a paywalled article is a violation of copyright law>

Hi all. Longtime lurker on this thread, first time poster. I'm curious about the term "didactic" material. Has anyone found anything on the “didactic” materials in RB's auction history? Is this term referring to the bronze phallus lol? Or, are we talking actual teaching materials? Marion is teacher, I can see her collecting didactic teaching materials (ie. textbooks, instuments, etc.) that might have some rarity to them.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

I politely disagree.

They were never living a regular life. They only wanted to be seen this way by others who lived beside them or who knew them slightly IMO

What were they doing tho? I'm curious. Did they have amazing holidays and buy expensive jewellery and have the first class health care and dentistry? Send the kids to private schools or pay for them to have the best of everything or put money in trust for the kids? I thought they were constantly renting houses not buying them.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

I can understand why you say that. I have swung a number of times between the extremes of her knowing much of went on (it went on for decades and she knew of his previous criminal activity in Europe) or being totally oblivious. I listened to a bit of her inquest evidence again yesterday and IMHO she deliberately obfuscates to some of ACs questions. Whether that constitutes a guilty conscience I’ll let everyone else form their own opinion.

For me, the way she spoke (or not) at the inquest was enough to feel sure she is complicit and fully knowing. Had it not been for that, it could be argued he has told her stories all their life together but the whole 'yeah / no' 'hmmmm... dunno' was positively contemptuous and the sort of way that a seasoned criminal would mock a detective.

ETA: JMO MOO - obv we are not here to sleuth spouse / family members, it's RB who is the person in question

 

[ruby925]

What were they doing tho? I'm curious. Did they have amazing holidays and buy expensive jewellery and have the first class health care and dentistry? Send the kids to private schools or pay for them to have the best of everything or put money in trust for the kids? I thought they were constantly renting houses not buying them.

IMO one successful romance fraud per year would provide an income for the family, but maybe not much more after expenses. Failed frauds would still cost air fares etc. I don't think RB was successful at anything else over the year, except maybe some fraudulent coin deals. All MOO

 

[Candytuft]

In my experience and from what I have observed, people like RB only associate themselves with people they can use. DDH must have been an excellent fit whichever way you look at it. Either thick as mince, malleable and willing to put up with the demands of his lifestyle or an accomplice - an enabler, if you like. I err towards the latter simply because she has lasted so long. Just my ramblings.

 

[KinseyFan]

It was hard listening to the indifference shown by DdH and that bank teller during the inquest. Must have been awful for Sally.

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

I still have to be convinced that anyone apart from RB ( and his victims) knew how he got his money.

I know I'm the odd one out but I just can't go along with finding fault with his family without any solid evidence.

And to me "they must have known" is nowhere near enough proof.

@TootsieFootsie - I've told this story before. My first husband was an embezzler. We lived VERY well. I didn't know he embezzled, but I was always "uncomfortable" about our cash flow/wealth given his job as a stockbroker and a wine business he started. When it all collapsed during divorce, I wasn't surprised. All the signs were in front of me, and I felt like a fool. I admit, I had known always something wasn't right. As far as DdH, she knows they were not living on their pensions. She may believe all the extra income came from the coin business. But AKA's travels, their constant moving house, their children's expenses -- it doesn't add up to a pensioner's life. IMO if DdH doesn't KNOW, she knows. What I can't believe is that they stand by him while being presented with full evidence of his criminality. Once I knew my husband embezzled, I never could have defended him or remained silent.

Whatever the case, they know now. This is what feels unconscionable to me, with my experience.

 

[gymtonic]

Hi all. Longtime lurker on this thread, first time poster. I'm curious about the term "didactic" material. Has anyone found anything on the “didactic” materials in RB's auction history? Is this term referring to the bronze phallus lol? Or, are we talking actual teaching materials? Marion is teacher, I can see her collecting didactic teaching materials (ie. textbooks, instuments, etc.) that might have some rarity to them.

In French, “didactique“ is used to describe materials that are used to “instruct” or “teach”. RB used the term (instead of saying books) at inquest when he claimed he accompanied MB to pick up things at TSS. That he used the term to describe materials he had at auction (if he wrote the descriptions) does not really lead to me linking the 2 - just that as a French speaker it is a quirk of mistranslation and he uses it more commonly than a native English speaker would say ”books” or “teaching materials” or “instruction manuals”. Didactic just sounds odd to non French speakers. IMO

 

[Littleguy7]

In French, “didactique“ is used to describe materials that are used to “instruct” or “teach”. RB used the term (instead of saying books) at inquest when he claimed he accompanied MB to pick up things at TSS. That he used the term to describe materials he had at auction (if he wrote the descriptions) does not really lead to me linking the 2 - just that as a French speaker it is a quirk of mistranslation and he uses it more commonly than a native English speaker would say ”books” or “teaching materials” or “instruction manuals”. Didactic just sounds odd to non French speakers. IMO

Thank you for that explanation as I'd wondered about this as well. It's an odd term to use to a native English speaker so good to be enlightened on this!

 

[Candytuft]

The bank teller and her recollections seemed strange to me. Plus, with so many withdrawals made over time you would think that there would be more witnesses. People seeing MB in the bank, going in, queuing, walking away to a car. She was distinctive looking. How did anyone else not remember her ? I worked for 40 years in public buildings and you do remember people especially regulars. It was a useful thing because we were aware of things not being right sometimes and then you make a point of remembering. Safeguarding etc. So many regular visits and the only witness is a teller ?
It's a headscratcher for me.
MOO.

 

[Eyespywithmylittleeye]

What were they doing tho? I'm curious. Did they have amazing holidays and buy expensive jewellery and have the first class health care and dentistry? Send the kids to private schools or pay for them to have the best of everything or put money in trust for the kids? I thought they were constantly renting houses not buying them.

They have definitely bought houses over the years

 

[car54]

I've now been able to view the Yamba Museum Visitors Book from 23 July to 12 November 1997. Always interesting. I found my daughter was a visitor during this time period. Other than that there were no other persons of interest signing the Visitors Book. This adds to Grafton and Armidale Visitor books now personally researched without success.

 

[mishy66]

I am still confounded why he did this. AFAIK there was no evidence they had ever met? Or did he think some would turn up?

YES he obviously knew someone saw them together when they first met in 1997.
Either Owen saw them at Marions house ( and of course AH would not have known about Owens death) or Marions friend saw him perhaps - or he knew Marion might thave told her friend about him - either way he was covering his tracks.

From the MB FB page:
The advert was published 12th Dec 1994 at the end of the school year, 3 yrs before she met Blum in 1997

So he met her at the arts centre maybe, while she was having a cuppa and pounced on her like a cat to a mouse with his french BS, swooning her.....

Poor Marion

This guy is the worst kind of human excrement.

 

[mishy66]

I tend to agree. Not about DH (I’m on the fence there, erring in the side of her having some knowledge) But Def in relation to the ‘children’. He’s a con artist. I can imagine him being convincing about all his ‘inheritance’.

To his son maybe

 

[mishy66]

Hi all. Longtime lurker on this thread, first time poster. I'm curious about the term "didactic" material. Has anyone found anything on the “didactic” materials in RB's auction history? Is this term referring to the bronze phallus lol? Or, are we talking actual teaching materials? Marion is teacher, I can see her collecting didactic teaching materials (ie. textbooks, instuments, etc.) that might have some rarity to them.

Yes some other things have been found eg books etc

 

[KinseyFan]

Maybe he knew Sally had seen him in the car with Marion? Not realising she didn’t get a close look

 

[mishy66]

For me, the way she spoke (or not) at the inquest was enough to feel sure she is complicit and fully knowing. Had it not been for that, it could be argued he has told her stories all their life together but the whole 'yeah / no' 'hmmmm... dunno' was positively contemptuous and the sort of way that a seasoned criminal would mock a detective.

ETA: JMO MOO - obv we are not here to sleuth spouse / family members, it's RB who is the person in question

It was said plain and simple by their neighbour, DdeH was party to all he was doing, in the garage while they were viewing his 'coin making and bond certs' , asking the husband of neighbour if he knew anyone who had a coin press, she was standing there in conversations about his 'tall tales' ; different ones to what we all heard at the inquest with them .....and she was there when he asked the neighbours to sign the documents for his 'new' name.

And she didnt query all the house moves??

Nah, shes a player

 

[mishy66]

@TootsieFootsie - I've told this story before. My first husband was an embezzler. We lived VERY well. I didn't know he embezzled, but I was always "uncomfortable" about our cash flow/wealth given his job as a stockbroker and a wine business he started. When it all collapsed during divorce, I wasn't surprised. All the signs were in front of me, and I felt like a fool. I admit, I had known always something wasn't right. As far as DdH, she knows they were not living on their pensions. She may believe all the extra income came from the coin business. But AKA's travels, their constant moving house, their children's expenses -- it doesn't add up to a pensioner's life. IMO if DdH doesn't KNOW, she knows. What I can't believe is that they stand by him while being presented with full evidence of his criminality. Once I knew my husband embezzled, I never could have defended him or remained silent.

Whatever the case, they know now. This is what feels unconscionable to me, with my experience.