An inquest into the disappearance and suspected death of a Gold Coast teacher 25 years ago has heard new evidence from an overseas witness.
Marion Barter has been described in a coronial inquest as a "dedicated, caring and very successful" school teacher.
Ms Barter was last seen in Southport, Queensland on June 22, 1997.
Her daughter Sally Leydon raised concerns about her mother's disappearance with police in Byron Bay in October that year.
Prior to her disappearance, Ms Barter changed her name to Florabella Natalia Marion Remakel – a move those investigating the case believe is "intrinsically connected" to the circumstances around her disappearance and the question of whether or not she is still alive.
The mystery surrounding the mother of two's disappearance 25 years ago has captured the attention of millions through the popular podcast The Lady Vanishes.
A formal inquiry into her disappearance, which began in June 2021, heard almost two weeks of evidence where Ric Blum — who had been romantically involved with Ms Barter prior to her disappearance in 1997 — was identified as an important witness.
In recapping the evidence, Counsel Assisting the inquiry, Adam Casselden SC, said Mr Blum had a tendency to "pursue dishonest relationships with vulnerable middle aged women".
He said Mr Blum had introduced himself as Fernand Remakel to Ms Barter, who was not aware of his true identity, including the fact that he was married with children.
The court heard he sold Ms Barter the idea that they would "start a new life together" when "he clearly had no intention of doing so".
Mr Casselden said there was no evidence at the time of the inquiry to establish Mr Blum played any "causative role" in Ms Barter's decision to sell her house or resign from her employment.
He said new information had since come to light involving two other women who allegedly had interactions with Mr Blum in Europe in the years following the disappearance of Ms Barter.
Ghislaine Danlois-Dubois alleges that in 2006, Mr Blum encouraged her to sell her house and move to Australia to start a new life with him.
"Accordingly, it is both necessary and desirable to re-open proceedings to receive new evidence," Mr Casselden said as the inquiry resumed in Lismore on Wednesday.
Romantic con
The first witness in a three day sitting of the NSW Coroners Court in Lismore was Ms Danlois-Dubois who gave evidence from her home in Brussels through a translator.
She was shown two pictures of Mr Blum who she confirmed to be the man she knew as Frederick De Hedervary.
Ms Danlois-Dubois said the pair first met at a cafe after she posted an ad in a newspaper in June 2006 when she was a 72-year-old widow.
She said Mr De Hedervary had told her he was a coin collector and bank manager who lived in Australia.
She said she had accepted his proposal to get married at a resort in Bali before moving to Australia.
The court heard Mr De Hedervary convinced Ms Danlois-Dubois to sell her home and give him approximately 72,000 Euros so that he could open bank accounts for her four children.
"He took advantage of the love I had for my children to steal my money," she said.
Ms Danlois-Dubois said the relationship came to an abrupt end when she spoke about using the money from the sale of the house to purchase a property in France close to her son.
Ms Danlois-Dubois said he also took two trunks of her most valuable possessions under the guise they would be shipped to Australia for her arrival.
She said she has never seen a trace of either the money or her valuables since.
"Eventually I understood that he never loved me and all he wanted was my money," she said.
Ms Danlois-Dubois also gave evidence about her concerns around Mr De Hedervary's interest in poisons.
"I think he was talking far too much, too often, about it."
Towards the end of her evidence, Ms Danlois-Dubois asked the coroner if there was any hope of finding Ms Barter.
"We won't be able to know that until the end of the inquest," State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan said.
Mr Casselden said Mr Blum may be recalled and examined about the new information provided by the two witnesses.
