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AAP
AAP
National
Ethan James

Couple appeal convictions for murdering ex-son-in-law

Noelene and Cedric Harper are appealing their convictions for murdering their former son-in-law. (Ethan James/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

A married couple who killed their former son-in-law in a planned shooting in a small Tasmanian town have appealed their murder conviction.

Cedric Harper Jordan and Noelene June Jordan were found guilty by a jury in June and jailed for 22 years over the death of Shane Barker in 2009.

Mr Barker was shot four times in the driveway of his house in Campbell Town after returning home from dinner with his parents.

The Jordans were motivated by an "ill feeling" towards Mr Barker and a wish to remove him from the lives of their daughter and granddaughter, the trial was told.

They perceived Mr Barker, 36, had behaved very badly towards them. The couple also had concerns he had mistreated his daughter.

Justice Robert Pearce ruled Cedric Jordan, who has a lifetime of experience with guns, fired the murder weapon, which has never been found.

The Jordans have challenged their convictions on a number of grounds according to documents filed with Tasmania's Court of Criminal Appeal.

Noelene Jordan argues the conviction was unsafe and unsatisfactory, and Justice Pearce erred by allowing a video experiment from police to be admitted as evidence during the trial.

She also argues Justice Pearce erred by failing to discharge two members of the jury when the nature of their pre-existing relationship became apparent to the court.

Cedric Jordan says the guilty verdict cannot be supported by the totality of the evidence.

Another ground of his appeal claims Justice Pearce erred in law by admitting the evidence of a reconstruction regarding a crowbar.

Justice Pearce said Mr Barker's death had a profound impact on his parents, family and friends and he was a "liked and respected" member of the community.

He found Noelene Jordan's mobile phone was taken through Campbell Town at about the time of the murder and the couple were almost always together.

He said they told many jointly concocted lies aimed at concealing their role in the crime.

"The circumstances ... leave no room for any doubt that this was a planned ... and intentional murder," Justice Pearce said during sentencing remarks.

Mr Barker separated with the Jordans' daughter about two-and-a-half years before his death.

The Jordans were sentenced to a non-parole period of 12 years.

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