Marion Barter disappearance: former lover challenged over assertion missing woman is still alive

Ric Blum told the inquest he could not remember details of a conversation he had with missing woman Marion Barter about her intent to seperate from her family. Photograph: Natalie Grono/The Guardian

The former lover of missing woman Marion Barter has been challenged over his assertion to the inquest into her disappearance that he believed she was still alive.

Ric Blum on Thursday told the long-running inquest he had come to that conclusion because Barter had told him “she wanted to separate from her family. She didn’t want anything to do with any member of her family”.