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”.
Barter quit her job as a Gold Coast teacher in 1997 and announced that she was going on a sabbatical to Europe. Three months later, while her family thought she was overseas, her savings were withdrawn from a bank in Byron Bay and she disappeared. Blum has admitted to being in a sexual relationship with her, but has said this “doesn’t mean it was romantic”.
Continuing his questioning of Blum on Friday, Adam Casselden, senior counsel assisting the crown, wanted to know why he had not mentioned the conversation regarding Barter’s family before – neither in police interviews in 2021, nor to the inquest, which is now in its fifth hearing.
When asked for more detail of this conversation with Barter, Blum, 84, said “I can’t remember”.
“I remember that particular thing that she said but I wasn’t particularly interested in anything of that kind, so I can’t remember. Just that she made that point that I thought was probably a bit strange.”
Casselden, who at times appeared frustrated with Blum, asked, “Would you agree with me that if Her Honour was to accept the truthfulness of your answers that it is important information?”
Blum replied, “Yes, I can understand that. But it was so many years ago I just can’t remember.”
He then said he did not volunteer this information to NSW police in June 2021 because “they never asked”.
He did not disclose the information in another electronically recorded interview with police in September 2021 because, he said, “I had no idea of the importance of it. It was just, you know, talking. What can I say?”
Casselden pointed out that in February last year, Blum was asked during the inquest if he had any personal knowledge of Barter wanting to start a new life and not have her whereabouts known.
“‘No’, you answered the question. Was that not the ideal opportunity, Mr Blum, for you to disclose to her Honour the conversation you alleged took place between you and Marion Barter in Queensland?” Casselden asked.
“As I said before,” Blum replied, “I don’t remember. That’s how it works in my head.”
Blum told the court he “can’t remember” most of the previous inquest hearings.
Throughout the inquest Casselden has pointed out the “striking similarities” in the statements of five female witnesses. All had been in a vulnerable state, encouraged to move with Blum to start a better life on the other side of the world. All stated that jewellery and valuables had been stolen from them.
Bradley Smith, acting for Barter’s daughter Sally Leydon, asked Blum if he accepted “that Marion Barter’s daughter has been looking for her mother since 1997.”
Blum replied that it was “nothing to do with me”.
Smith asked, “is there any further information about what happened to Marion Barter you can provide to Her Honour?”
Blum replied, “I can’t provide. How would I know? I don’t know. She was living her life. What do you want me to say?”
The inquest has now been adjourned, with findings to be handed down at a future date.
