Australia Australia - Marion Barter - Missing After Trip to UK - June 1997 #20

[CuriousKat99]

That's just your opinion. As WS's we are allowed to have our own theories too
I dont think SL ever said she believed the bank teller

I’m keeping both options open. Both theories have their merits IMO and it would be premature to discard either at this point. Hopefully the unknown paper trail from the UK that should be available once the inquest concludes will help to clarify.

 

[MrPickles]

That's just your opinion. As WS's we are allowed to have our own theories too
I dont think SL ever said she believed the bank teller

You’re most welcome to your theories, just as we all are. That includes me, so you calm down on overriding others speculative theories.

My speculations are on based what MB did (or didn’t) say to SL -what was written by MB, evidence uncovered from deep dives by JC, SL and the TLV team (not by me) evidence supplied by AKA’s victims, similarities of his MO as given in coronial testimonies - and what we’ve learned from ER. Evidence based to create a speculative timeline.

I’ve not included an unsubstantiated female assistant flying in from the UK on the FNMR passport, a dodgy illegal entry into Australia deal, an assassin mate in the UK, dodgy police corruption, or an unsubstantiated theory in relation to MC and the real FR’s relationship with AKA. No evidence. But be prepared to be questioned when it’s non evidence based to answer what led you to your conclusion.

If correct - the blank postcard post dated 30/08/97 to LL is a great evidence based fact finder. Well done. I can’t remember that from the podcast. Can you remember which episode?

 

[KinseyFan]

What are the chances that Marion didn’t action her own name change? That she perhaps didn’t even know about it? That she perhaps signed the forms but was misled about what she was signing? Sincere apologies if this has been 100% proven. There is just too much info for my brain to retain.

 

[MrPickles]

What are the chances that Marion didn’t action her own name change? That she perhaps didn’t even know about it? That she perhaps signed the forms but was misled about what she was signing? Sincere apologies if this has been 100% proven. There is just too much info for my brain to retain.

SL has confirmed it’s definitely M in the passport photo which must be confirmed as photographic evidence ‘you are the person’ attaining the passport - including ID documents.

Note: Strangely MB had ticked M for MALE on her passport application. Not F for FEMALE. A very, very odd mistake.

 

[Lord Peter Flimsy]

I could imagine AKA being able to hold MB off making contact with her kids for a couple of weeks - but definitely not the 11 weeks between her return and the final bank transfer. One of the reasons for my speculation that it wasn’t MB making the withdrawals. Telling SL she may not hear from her for a little while does not equate to 11 weeks. That is a very long time. Time enough for SL to know something was very very wrong.

That last withdrawal was just days before her son’s birthday. That might suggest she played no part in that large transfer of money overseas(??)

 

[MrPickles]

That last withdrawal was just days before her son’s birthday. That might suggest she played no part in that large transfer of money overseas(??)

I agree based on what we know from MB’s personality via family, friends, postcards etc. Her personality was kind and caring. She would’ve called Owen. That’s what set SL on her mission of discovery. She knew her Mum would definitely have called her son on his birthday. Something was very wrong. She was right.

 

[Annalize]

It’s AKA’s evidence that MB placed an ad. So far it has not been confirmed to be the truth. MB told SL that she met ‘the man in the car’ at the Arts Centre. This could in fact be the truth of it. The Arts Centre is a mighty fine place to scout out vulnerable victims.

Also a place to have a conversation about what paintings someone may own.. that may be of interest to the acquirer of other people's treasures

 

[MrsWattle]

Yes. So IF someone else apart from MB entered into Australia on her passport and withdrew her coin, the smart thing to do would be to have her passport leaving the country after the final transfer on the 16th of October and arriving in Brussels.

It would seem to all, including Sally, that the teller in Ashmore had the right story. She had left to begin a new life in LUX.

The fact that MB’s passport never left Australia again (once SL learned about the name change etc from Gary Sheehan in 2011) leads one to conclude on the basis of evidence that it was in fact MB who flew in.

Wait. I thought it was the bank teller in Byron Bay, where a tanned Marion told her she was going to Bali.

 

[Lord Peter Flimsy]

I do feel the Inquest missed a trick or two. From memory the only line of questioning about the Orient Express was had he been on it? The answer was obviously no. End of subject.

But why wasn’t he asked did you and Marion ever discuss going on the Orient Express? (if he said yes then that would suggest he might go to England with her where the train departs).

Did you or Marion ever purchase or cancel any tickets for the Orient Express?

Do you remember the Central European Floods whilst in Europe in July 1997? Did they in any way affect your travel plans whilst there?

Do you know how much it costs to travel on the Orient Express?

Do you think honeymooners would use the Orient Express?

Does the Orient Express travel through Belgium? What do you know about it’s route?

He may answered it all with his usual BS but to me an opportunity lost.

 

[mishy66]

Vehicle is purchased - she is collected from the Novotel, Brisbane, then taken to the optometrist in Grafton to placate the fear of her illness and blurred vision - this is on their way to his promised sprawling acreage mansion in Nymboida, 30 minutes from Grafton, where she never left the vacant red gum treed acreage.

2 days later the withdrawals begin…

Therefore only one extra player is required. The woman doing the withdrawals. Someone close who has been coercively controlled for years.

No hit man in the UK. No person outside of family using MB’s FR passport. It’s neat, clean, and quietly executed.

After arriving at Brisbane Airport 2nd August Marion would have completed her eight day stay at the Novotel on the 10th of August, the day before the car was bought by AH. The car salesman confirmed he sold the Mitsubishi to AH on 11th August.

7 August RACQ insurance cancelled - by phone
Her Medicare card used at optometrist 13 August

The Bank Security Officer was the one who told the Salvos who in turn told her family that Marion was upset that Sally hadn't put in the payment for the red car. It was found much later that the bank had no Security Officer.
AH waiting for the cash to drop before the withdrawal. JMO of course.

13 AUGUST – MB MEDICARE CARD USED AT GRAFTON

18 AUGUST - WITHDRAWALS AT BYRON BAY BANK - BB police never investigated the CBA dealings
$5000 - withdrawn daily for 3.5 weeks at Commonwealth Byron, and 3 days in middle at Burleigh Heads totaling between $85k to $120k

21 September - AH doesnt turn up to do his job at the swim meet


15 OCTOBER - 80K final withdrawal at Ashmore - Marion's account where the house payment went into.

So lots of trips between Grafton, bank Byron, then Bank at Burleigh Heads, then back to Byron, then to Colonial Bank at Ashmore for someone who had no access to a car when she supposedly left the Novotel on the 10th August.

20 OCTOBER 1997 - SL reports Marion as a missing person at BB police station.


* as you say you deal with facts only but you include an unsubstantiated female assistant who has been under coercive control to be the one withdrawing the funds???*

We too deal with facts - have done so since 2019 - when they come to be revealed, but in the meantime we speculate on what other things could come into play with what sleuths find

 

[mishy66]

Wait. I thought it was the bank teller in Byron Bay, where a tanned Marion told her she was going to Bali.

Yeah there are a few discrepancies in the timeline of the fact finder.

 

[mishy66]

What are the chances that Marion didn’t action her own name change? That she perhaps didn’t even know about it? That she perhaps signed the forms but was misled about what she was signing? Sincere apologies if this has been 100% proven. There is just too much info for my brain to retain.

Yeah it was Marion who actioned the name change and her new passport No doubt because of AH BS

 

[TootsieFootsie]

He may answered it all with his usual BS but to me an opportunity lost.

Exactamont!

Oh sorry I was channelling my inner Poirot.

 

[MrsWattle]

SL has confirmed it’s definitely M in the passport photo which must be confirmed as photographic evidence ‘you are the person’ attaining the passport - including ID documents.

Note: Strangely MB had ticked M for MALE on her passport application. Not F for FEMALE. A very, very odd mistake.

Wait. I thought M for male was on the driver's licence for Florabella.

 

[Housemartyn]

Do we know tall Marion was and how much she weighed?

 

[mishy66]

Wait. I thought it was the bank teller in Byron Bay, where a tanned Marion told her she was going to Bali.

Yeah no one said Marion left to begin her new life in Lux.
and it was on her license not her PP re the gender.

<modsnip>

 

[MrPickles]

Wait. I thought it was the bank teller in Byron Bay, where a tanned Marion told her she was going to Bali.

I believe Jack Wilson, Marion’s Father was told via the Salvo’s that MB told a teller/manager in Ashmore she was moving onto a new life. He was also ‘apparently’ told MB was annoyed SL hadn’t transferred payment of funds for the red Honda MB left with SL.

The BB teller was a ‘Johnny come very lately’ who gave evidence at the inquest. Her story: after being told by friends about the podcast re: a bank she worked at in 1997 and a missing woman - claimed she had zero interest in listening to - saw a reward billboard for $500,000 and recognised MB immediately (25 years later) as an airy fairy strange named woman moving to Bali to start a new life. Zero cred.

 

[MrPickles]

Do we know tall Marion was and how much she weighed?

Not sure on weight - by photos - approximately 68-78 kgs. Height 5”6

 

[Lord Peter Flimsy]

I believe Jack Wilson, Marion’s Father was told via the Salvo’s that MB told a teller/manager in Ashmore she was moving onto a new life. He was also ‘apparently’ told MB was annoyed SL hadn’t transferred payment of funds for the red Honda MB left with SL.

The BB teller was a ‘Johnny come very lately’ who gave evidence at the inquest. Her story: after being told by friends about the podcast re: a bank she worked at in 1997 and a missing woman - claimed she had zero interest in listening to - saw a reward billboard for $500,000 and recognised MB immediately (25 years later) as an airy fairy strange named woman moving to Bali to start a new life. Zero cred.

Agree. It’s amazing what some remember when they see a few dollar signs. When I think of some of the witnesses who should have been at the Inquest. JMO but I think AC thought when questioning her it was a complete waste of time.

 

[Lord Peter Flimsy]

Exactamont!

Oh sorry I was channelling my inner Poirot.

If a budding Agatha Christie was looking for a plot line look no further than this case. I’ve even contemplated it myself.