- In short: A witness has told the Supreme Court in Launceston he heard the two co-accused say they should kill their ex son-in-law before his 2009 death
- What's next?: The trial, which has been underway since late April, will continue next week
A witness has told a jury in a murder trial in Launceston that he heard the two co-accused say they should kill their ex son-in-law.
Swansea couple, Noelene and Cedric Jordan, are both on trial for the murder of 36-year-old Shane Barker.
The 71-year-old and 68-year-old have both pleaded not guilty.
It is the Crown's case Mr Barker was shot three times in the back and once in the chest outside his Campbell Town house on August 2, 2009.
Justin Titley was in a relationship with the couple's daughter at the time of the murder, Rachel Jordan, who's also Mr Barker's ex-wife.
He told the court Mr and Mrs Jordan weren't fond of Mr Barker.
"They didn't like him," he told the court.
"On a number of occasions they said they should kill him, shoot the bastard."
The jury was told the comments were usually made when the Jordans had been drinking.
Mr Titley also recounted a discussion about a visit to the Jordan's family shack at Little Pine Lagoon in the Central Highlands in 2008.
"It was innocent but they were talking about how they should get a hit man to get rid of Shane," Mr Titley told the court.
Evidence about gun 'no-one knew about'
Before Mr Barker's death, Mr Titley told the court Cedric Jordan brought a .22 pump action rifle to a property he lived at in Longford.
He said Mr Jordan referred to it as the gun "no-one knew about" and that it was a "good rifle to get rid of someone with" — then pointed the firearm in the direction of Campbell Town.
The prosecution alleges Mr Barker was shot with a .22 pump action rifle.
The murder weapon has never been found.
Mr Titley also told the court Mr Barker and Rachel Jordan had several disagreements about money, property and the wellbeing of their daughter — concerns Ms Jordan shared with her parents.
"She didn't want Sophie to go to Shane's," Mr Titley said. "She hated the bastard."
On the day before the murder, Mr Titley told the court he and and Rachel had discussed her daughter's access visits to Mr Barker.
"She said that she'd never have to go back there," Mr Titley said.
He conceded to defence lawyer Fran McCracken he was also a major suspect in the murder.
"I was told that I was suspect number one," Mr Titley said. "I was told that by police.
"In the eyes of the community, I was hung and quartered."
The trial will continue next week.
