Speaker 1: This is the case of Marion Barter, a mother, teacher,
Speaker 1: friend missing for twenty six years.
Speaker 2: You know something that she was going to vanish.
Speaker 3: That's for sure.
Speaker 1: The bizarre circumstances surrounding her disappearance, I'm not.
Speaker 4: Sure if it was intentional.
Speaker 1: There's something more foul afoot.
Speaker 5: If you could imagine a teacher coming straight from say
Speaker 5: little house on the prairie to the eighties, that was
Speaker 5: Marian Barter.
Speaker 3: What I say, whether you find Marian Barter dead or alive,
Speaker 3: I honestly believe somebody has that key piece of information.
Speaker 1: And the relentless quest of a daughter to find her mum.
Speaker 6: Something had happened, Something has happened to make her leave.
Speaker 1: I am one hundred percent sure, one hundred percent sure
Speaker 1: that somebody knows something. The Lady Vanishes, Episode forty eight.
Speaker 1: I'm Alison Sandy.
Speaker 2: And I'm Brian Seymour.
Speaker 1: Six months have passed since the sudden decision of Coroner
Speaker 1: Teresa O'Sullivan to delay handing down the findings of the
Speaker 1: inquest into Marion Barter's disappearance. If you recall, the announcement
Speaker 1: came at the eleventh hour. Sally, her husband Chris, and
Speaker 1: their three children had already flown to Sydney in anticipation.
Speaker 1: It was a shock at first and they had to regroup.
Speaker 2: Some weeks later we were officially told the reason for
Speaker 2: the delay. There was new evidence which had just featured
Speaker 2: in our latest podcast episodes detailing more alleged victims of
Speaker 2: Rick Bloom. The new hearing was sent down for three
Speaker 2: days in late May early June in Lismore in northern
Speaker 2: New South Wales, though the coroner would not release the
Speaker 2: names of those who would be called to give evidence.
Speaker 1: I set off for the two and a half hour
Speaker 1: drive from Brisbane to Lismo on May thirty, twenty twenty three,
Speaker 1: but not before I picked up an important someone from
Speaker 1: the airport. One of our sleeves, Christina has again come
Speaker 1: all the way from the United Kingdom. Are you always
Speaker 1: being there for us when we went to the UK
Speaker 1: and you sort of feeding out UK correspondent our proxy there?
Speaker 4: It just it really means what you received.
Speaker 1: So I was so cute.
Speaker 4: It's come a long way since four years ago. So
Speaker 4: many developments been.
Speaker 2: Avertas to support funding throughout this journey.
Speaker 4: Her journey has been a very long journey. Feel privileged
Speaker 4: to come in on that journey at a later.
Speaker 2: Stage, but quite a crucial studies. The Beau support her
Speaker 2: and offer some help.
Speaker 1: I wish it could be more. I wish we could
Speaker 1: fly as that leading the haystack.
Speaker 6: Maybe one day we will.
Speaker 1: We arrive in Lismore to find it still bears considerable
Speaker 1: scars from floods last year. Still see devastation from recent
Speaker 1: floods here. I from what I'm told, they haven't really
Speaker 1: bounced that, as well as other places that were rubbaged
Speaker 1: by floods. A lot of shops and businesses have never reopened.
Speaker 1: Even the Grand Old Library looks abandoned. Before checking into
Speaker 1: our accommodation, we check in with our camera crew, who
Speaker 1: are busy collecting pictures around.
Speaker 5: We're going to go from.
Speaker 4: Here to look out, Okay, look out for probably back
Speaker 4: down the streets.
Speaker 3: Yeah, do some stuff today and then we'll finish off
Speaker 3: with Drove stuftly Cans.
Speaker 7: Sunset that's whatever.
Speaker 1: May the thirty first is a crisp, blue sky day.
Speaker 1: It's also the last day of autumn, so it's very
Speaker 1: fresh eight degrees celsius when I wake up, but gaining
Speaker 1: in temperature as the morning wears on. It's an earlier
Speaker 1: than usual start for court eight point thirty instead of
Speaker 1: ten am. The reason is that a witness on the
Speaker 1: other side of the world has stayed up very late
Speaker 1: at night just so she can tell her story. The courthouse,
Speaker 1: a boxy brick building, does not have Wi Fi, which
Speaker 1: will make it difficult to live stream the proceedings if
Speaker 1: I need to step out of the courtroom. I've spotted
Speaker 1: at least four other journalists here, and the public gallery
Speaker 1: fills up quickly. I've spoken to a few of those
Speaker 1: who've turned up. One has come from Sydney, another from Newcastle,
Speaker 1: and there's a man who I've never seen before. He
Speaker 1: stands out mostly because his phone unexpectedly goes off in court,
Speaker 1: and I make a mental note to find out.
Speaker 5: Who he is.
Speaker 1: Most people are wearing black, gray or navy, so I
Speaker 1: feel a bit conspicuous in my red suit. There's a
Speaker 1: French language interpreter seated in the witness box, but there's
Speaker 1: no sign of Rick Blum or his wife Diane. Although
Speaker 1: mister Blum is represented this time, he has a barrister,
Speaker 1: Matthew White sc.
Speaker 3: Was he trying to avoid media's scrutiny by not turning.
Speaker 5: Up of course not, of course not.
Speaker 1: The standard cost for a senior council is one thousand
Speaker 1: dollars per hour and for specific court proceedings eight thousand
Speaker 1: dollars per day. It's not clear how mister Blum is
Speaker 1: funding that kind of expensive legal aid on disability pension.
Speaker 1: We don't know how mister Blum found a senior council
Speaker 1: to represent him, but we should point out under the
Speaker 1: cab Rank rule, a barrister must accept a brief unless
Speaker 1: they have a specific reason they cannot do the work
Speaker 1: or are unavailable. As we wait for the first witness,
Speaker 1: I should remind you that we can't use the audio
Speaker 1: from the actual inquest. Again, we have engaged voice actors
Speaker 1: to speak the words heard by the coroner.
Speaker 2: I'm tuning into the live stream from Sydney Council assisting
Speaker 2: the coroner. Adam casselten opens the proceedings.
Speaker 7: This is the fifth tranch of hearings of the Inquest
Speaker 7: into the Disappearance of Marion Barter, also known as Florabella
Speaker 7: Natalia Marion Ramachel. This tranch is taking place notwithstanding that
Speaker 7: in the latter part of last year, your Honor received
Speaker 7: all relevant evidence and submissions from interested parties in writing
Speaker 7: and orally in court. The inquest has taken such a
Speaker 7: course because, as has been made clear in these proceedings,
Speaker 7: the investigation into the disappearance and suspected death of Marion
Speaker 7: Barter is ongoing. Those assisting Your Honor have become aware
Speaker 7: of two other women who allegedly had interactions with mister
Speaker 7: Blum in Europe in the years following the disappearance of
Speaker 7: Marion Barter.
Speaker 2: Mister Cassadin names Julaane Duboisdan Nois and another woman also
Speaker 2: in Europe, whom we have previously referred to as Charlotte
Speaker 2: in this podcast as she doesn't want her true name revealed.
Speaker 2: We learned that Charlotte won't be giving evidence at these proceedings,
Speaker 2: but a statement she gave to Belgian police in twenty
Speaker 2: twelve has been tended to the court. However, Gulaane Dubois
Speaker 2: de Nois will be recounting her interactions with Rick Bloom
Speaker 2: aka Frederick de Hettiary back in two thousand and six.
Speaker 2: She will allege that she became engaged to mister day
Speaker 2: Heady and he'd encouraged her to sell her house and
Speaker 2: move to Australia to start a new life with him.
Speaker 2: The court also hears that ninety two year old Andre
Speaker 2: Flume also encountered Frederick de Headevy in twenty ten and
Speaker 2: will also be getting up in the early hours of
Speaker 2: the morning in Portugal, where she now lives, to ensure
Speaker 2: her evidence is heard via livelink. Madame Flume claims mister
Speaker 2: Daheedevry stole her late husband's valuable coin collection. After that,
Speaker 2: Rick Bloom will again be called to the stand to
Speaker 2: respond to the claims made by the two women, But
Speaker 2: before the evidence begins, mister Kasdon, as he has done previously,
Speaker 2: makes a call for anyone with information about Marion Barter
Speaker 2: to come forward.
Speaker 7: The disappearance of Marion Barter continues to be an ongoing
Speaker 7: investigation by New South Wales Police. If any member of
Speaker 7: the public has any information rioting to the disapp appearance
Speaker 7: of Marion Barter or information relating to Florabella ramical I
Speaker 7: strongly encourage you to come forward and to share that
Speaker 7: information with New South Wales Police or crime stoppers.
Speaker 2: A familiar face pops up on the screen. It is
Speaker 2: ninety two year old Julaine Dubois dan Lois. Julaane is
Speaker 2: in Brussels, and the interpreter is in Lismore. Both give
Speaker 2: their affirmation. It is twelve thirty a m. In Brussels.
Speaker 2: Given the late hour, it's no wonder she appears weary.
Speaker 2: At times, she trembles and her eyes water. This is
Speaker 2: hard for her. Coroner Rienza O'Sullivan thanks the witness for
Speaker 2: staying awake so late to give evidence. In reply, Julane says,
Speaker 2: this I know.
Speaker 3: But it is so important for me to bear witness.
Speaker 2: Through the interpreter. Miss Dubois dan Lois tells the court
Speaker 2: she met Frederic to Head of Rey in two thousand
Speaker 2: and six, although later learned that he went by several
Speaker 2: other names as well. She says he responded to an
Speaker 2: ad she had placed in a newspaper.
Speaker 3: I had asked for a handwritten letter, which he sent
Speaker 3: and it was a very nice letter, with no spelling errors,
Speaker 3: and very interesting.
Speaker 2: Their first meeting was in a cafe in Brussels in
Speaker 2: June two thousand and six, and the last time she
Speaker 2: saw him was three months later in September. Their friendship
Speaker 2: had quickly blossomed into romance. Because she knew he was
Speaker 2: staying in student accommodation, Julane invited Frederic to heavy to
Speaker 2: stay at her home. He accepted immediately and they shared a.
Speaker 3: Bed, but he had said to me beforehand that it
Speaker 3: was abnormally frigid.
Speaker 5: She says.
Speaker 2: He told her he lived in Australia where he was
Speaker 2: a bank manager, and was in Belgium to look for
Speaker 2: old coins as.
Speaker 5: He was a collector.
Speaker 2: The court is told he invited miss duoisdan Nois to
Speaker 2: get married at a resort in Bali, and suggested they
Speaker 2: would later live in Australia. She agreed so long as
Speaker 2: she could visit her children and they could come to
Speaker 2: visit her.
Speaker 3: I was fond of him and I wanted to live
Speaker 3: with him in Australia.
Speaker 2: But Frederic Deheadevry did not want Julaine Dubois dan Nois
Speaker 2: to tell her children of their plans to marry.
Speaker 3: Simply, he was saying, because it's more fun, It would
Speaker 3: be more practical to tell them once we were married.
Speaker 3: But that is exactly what I would not accept.
Speaker 2: She insisted on telling her children and they were very
Speaker 2: surprised and astonished. However, she said they didn't try to
Speaker 2: stop her because they loved her and wanted her to
Speaker 2: have freedom. After their father's death, mister Bois d'in lois
Speaker 2: tells the court. When she started making preparations to move
Speaker 2: to Australia, Frederick de Heeadevry chose items of value around
Speaker 2: her house and put them into two trunks. He said
Speaker 2: he would have them shipped to Australia so she'd have
Speaker 2: them when she arrived, but she has not seen those
Speaker 2: items again. He also asked her to undergo particular medical examinations,
Speaker 2: an ultrasound of the liver and a sleep examination before
Speaker 2: she traveled to Australia, and he requested she put her
Speaker 2: house up for sale.
Speaker 3: So he asked me to sell my house, and then
Speaker 3: he asked me to give him the money so that
Speaker 3: he could open bank accounts in his bank for my children.
Speaker 3: And I had four children, and that would be four
Speaker 3: separate bank accounts, so that when they visited me, they
Speaker 3: could find their very own money in their own bank account.
Speaker 3: He took advantage of the love I had for my
Speaker 3: children to steal my money.
Speaker 2: The court is she took money from her shares, investments
Speaker 2: and savings and gave it to Frederick, thehead of Rey,
Speaker 2: about seventy two thousand euros in cash to set up
Speaker 2: the bank accounts and every time she went to make
Speaker 2: a withdrawal from an account, he would always accompany her.
Speaker 2: But she decided not to hand over the proceeds from
Speaker 2: the sale of her house.
Speaker 3: No, because my son, who lives in France, told me
Speaker 3: that there was a house for sale near him and
Speaker 3: I was thinking of giving him money to buy the house,
Speaker 3: and Frederick understood at that point that he was not
Speaker 3: going to get the money. That's when he left. So
Speaker 3: my son and his partner had organized a meal and
Speaker 3: we had a date, but he never came. I got
Speaker 3: worried because he had on him. So he said a
Speaker 3: large sum of money for purchasing coins, and I was
Speaker 3: frightened for him.
Speaker 2: She contacted the police and they told her not to
Speaker 2: worry because he'd been seen in Amsterdam and was in
Speaker 2: good health. She later spotted him one day on the
Speaker 2: streets of Brussels.
Speaker 3: We were walking on each side of the street, and
Speaker 3: I think he saw me first and he dove into
Speaker 3: a chocolate store, probably to avoid me making a scene.
Speaker 2: The court heard that Frederick de Hedevry never gave mister
Speaker 2: Bois d'An lois the seventy two thousand euros back, although
Speaker 2: he did give her a warning. A few days after
Speaker 2: he left.
Speaker 3: One day he called me from Brussels in in Belgium,
Speaker 3: and I said to him, give me back what you
Speaker 3: took from me, and he said, I took nothing from you,
Speaker 3: but if I hear from you again, I think he
Speaker 3: met he was worried that I might lodge a complaint,
Speaker 3: you will have to deal with me. I think he
Speaker 3: was hinting at some form of revenge.
Speaker 2: And the only reason he gave for ending the relationship.
Speaker 3: In some ways, it's quite laughable, he said, because you're
Speaker 3: noisy when you drink. Eventually I understood that he never
Speaker 3: loved me and all he wanted was my money.
Speaker 2: When she realized she'd been duped, she made a complaint
Speaker 2: to Belgian police, and that's when she realized Frederick dhead
Speaker 2: of Rey may have had other names.
Speaker 3: When I went to launch a complaint, the police asked
Speaker 3: me does he have any other names? And of course
Speaker 3: I knew nothing of that, and they said, we can't
Speaker 3: find much under his name.
Speaker 1: Sally Leyden's lawyer, Bradley Smith, asked Miss du Bois dan
Speaker 1: Nois whether Frederic d'hevari wanted her to give back the
Speaker 1: letter he had sent her. She agrees, saying he told
Speaker 1: her he would frame it so they could put it
Speaker 1: above their bed in Australia, but she never saw the
Speaker 1: letter again. She is also quizzed about a statement Belgian
Speaker 1: police asked her to make in twenty thirteen. Mister Bois
Speaker 1: Danois said it was because Frederic d'heevari had targeted another
Speaker 1: woman in Tournay in Belgium.
Speaker 3: They gave me no name, but they said this poor
Speaker 3: lady had been abandoned without any money in Bali and
Speaker 3: she was completely left without anything and very sad.
Speaker 2: She also told the court that Frederick d Head of
Speaker 2: Veryan had told her he was involved in the Vietnam
Speaker 2: War as a volunteer and that he had an interest
Speaker 2: in poison and would speak about it often.
Speaker 3: In the end, what I was really worried about was
Speaker 3: his interest in poison, because on two occasions I was
Speaker 3: afraid of him.
Speaker 2: After identifying the man she knew as Frederick d. Headroverin photographs,
Speaker 2: Miss de Wire d'An lois had a heartfelt question of
Speaker 2: her own for the coroner.
Speaker 3: I would like to know whether you have any hope
Speaker 3: of finding the lady who disappeared. I'm very keen to
Speaker 3: know that, especially for her daughter.
Speaker 2: The coroner replies, on behalf of Sally Leyden, thank you.
Speaker 3: I am sure she appreciates your assistance. I hope that
Speaker 3: that can help the daughter who lost her mother who disappeared,
Speaker 3: and hope that she can she may be found again.
Speaker 1: The court is adjourned until around eleven thirty am. That's
Speaker 1: when Matthew ysc the barrister representing Rick Blum, makes an
Speaker 1: application to the coroner on behalf of his client. This
Speaker 1: matter is not life streamed, but it is heard in
Speaker 1: an open court, which is why we can report it.
Speaker 1: Mister White requests that Rick Blum appear to give evidence
Speaker 1: remotely via audio video link rather than in person, as
Speaker 1: he has done previously. He argues that mister Blum is
Speaker 1: in poor health, has experienced a decline immobility and cognitive ability,
Speaker 1: and fears the threat of media harassment. He presents a
Speaker 1: medical report from mister Blum's doctor, dated May twenty third,
Speaker 1: saying mister Blum suffered from anxiety attacks, debilitating headaches, and
Speaker 1: back pain, and was on strong painkillers. He had experienced
Speaker 1: some quote visible cognitive decline over the past twelve months
Speaker 1: and now has travel conversing and would do better without
Speaker 1: the distracting noise he'd experience in a courtroom. Mister White
Speaker 1: argues that his client also found dealing with the media
Speaker 1: quote very challenging, and he had already given evidence concerning
Speaker 1: the disappearance of Marion Barter. Mister Blum now lives at
Speaker 1: an age care respite center in Bangalow, about half an
Speaker 1: hour's drive from Lismore. It is suggested that he could
Speaker 1: appear via video link from there or from his ball
Speaker 1: and a home where he could be assisted by his wife,
Speaker 1: and he'd also need frequent breaks. But counsel assisting Adam
Speaker 1: Casselton opposes the application, saying mister Blum's medical concerns could
Speaker 1: be addressed and he needed to respond in person to
Speaker 1: the serious allegations involving women who had interacted with him
Speaker 1: in in the past. Coroner Theresa O'Sullivan agrees, saying the
Speaker 1: court had the facilities to accommodate him and his concerns,
Speaker 1: and she reiterates that he was an important witness whose
Speaker 1: physical presence was required. Also, the inquest was transported to
Speaker 1: Lismore and it appears given he was the only one
Speaker 1: to physically give evidence there that it was because of him.
Speaker 1: Mister Blum is called to give evidence at ten am
Speaker 1: the following day, June the first. Oh and that man
Speaker 1: in court whose phone went off, the one I mentioned earlier.
Speaker 1: I found out who he is. His name is John.
Speaker 1: He's Marian's former brother in law, the ex husband of
Speaker 1: Marion's sister Deirdre. He doesn't say much to me, but
Speaker 1: he does divulge at Marian seemed to have a self
Speaker 1: destructive streak when he knew her, and he remembers how
Speaker 1: Deirdre would care for her through her many broken hearts.
Speaker 2: After the application for mister Bloom's barrister, the court is
Speaker 2: adjourned for a number of hours before resuming at three
Speaker 2: pm once again. The reason for this is to allow
Speaker 2: for the time difference between Australia and Europe, because the
Speaker 2: next witness is ninety two year old Andre Flume. She
Speaker 2: appears via videolink from Portugal, where it is now six
Speaker 2: o'clock in the morning. She has a supporter with her
Speaker 2: and only the top half of her face is visible
Speaker 2: on the screen. Once again, an interpreter is sitting in
Speaker 2: the witness stand in the Court at Lismore. While it's
Speaker 2: early in the morning for Madame Flume and she seems
Speaker 2: a little tired, it is clear that she has a
Speaker 2: sharp memory. The court heard that she had come to
Speaker 2: know a man from Australia named Frederic de Hedevy in
Speaker 2: May twenty ten. She had met him through her daughter
Speaker 2: and son in law, Pierre, who back then worked out
Speaker 2: of Brussels Library, which is where he first met Frederick
Speaker 2: de Headevy. When Madame Flume heard that Dhadevvery was looking
Speaker 2: for a place to stay, she agreed he could stay
Speaker 2: in a bedroom at her home, which he did from
Speaker 2: May tenth to June the fourth, twenty ten. While it's
Speaker 2: the first time Andre Flume has given evidence in these proceedings,
Speaker 2: longtime listeners will likely find the name familiar. After her
Speaker 2: dealings with mister de Headevy, Madame Flume wrote a letter
Speaker 2: to the Queensland Governor. That letter is now on file
Speaker 2: at the State Archives and has been referred to throughout
Speaker 2: the inquest. It stated July twenty six, twenty ten, not
Speaker 2: long after Madame Flume's interactions with mister de Headevy. In it,
Speaker 2: she claims that he stole her late husband's coin collection
Speaker 2: worth twenty thousand euros, and that he's a liar, not
Speaker 2: to be trusted and is wanted by Belgian police. And
Speaker 2: if you cast your mind back to mister Bloom's appearance
Speaker 2: at the inquest in February twenty twenty two, or just
Speaker 2: re listen to episode thirty three of this podcast, you'll
Speaker 2: discover what mister Bloom had to say about Andre Flume
Speaker 2: and her allegations when quizzed by Adam Casselten. First, mister
Speaker 2: Bloom explained that he'd been invited by Madame Flume's daughter
Speaker 2: and son in law to look at some old coins
Speaker 2: that had belonged to her husband, who had recently passed away.
Speaker 2: Then he got personal. In February twenty twenty two, Rick
Speaker 2: Bloom told the court that Andrea Flume could not put
Speaker 2: two words together, she had Alzheimer's and dementia and sat
Speaker 2: in a wheelchair in her room all day. Mister Carsleton
Speaker 2: put those assertions to Madame Flume directly.
Speaker 7: While mister d Hadaveri was staying with you in twenty ten.
Speaker 7: Were you confined to a wheelchair?
Speaker 3: No?
Speaker 7: Not that all well, Frederic Ahadaveri stayed with you did
Speaker 7: you need to use a wheelchair from time to time?
Speaker 3: No, no, never.
Speaker 7: At that time that he stayed with you, had you
Speaker 7: been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia?
Speaker 2: Madame Flume chuckles at the suggestion.
Speaker 3: No, no, never.
Speaker 7: Mister Cassidon continues, during the time that he stayed with you,
Speaker 7: were you able to put more than two words together?
Speaker 7: Madame Flume clearly finds that suggestion ridiculous and highly amusing.
Speaker 7: She laughs as she responds yes. She denies that doctors
Speaker 7: were coming to see her frequently while mister Deheaervy was
Speaker 7: staying and claims he offered to value her husband's coin collection.
Speaker 7: What became of your husband's coin collection?
Speaker 3: I don't have it anymore. It was him who took it.
Speaker 7: How do you know that it was Frederic Aheevari that
Speaker 7: took it.
Speaker 3: He was viewing the coins and I went out for
Speaker 3: an errant, and when I came everything was gone.
Speaker 7: When you say everything was gone, do you mean everything?
Speaker 4: No?
Speaker 3: The coin collection.
Speaker 7: Did Frederick ever say that he would send you money
Speaker 7: for the value of your coin collection?
Speaker 3: He didn't see anything. He just left with it, that's all.
Speaker 7: Did he leave a note or a message for you
Speaker 7: while you were out.
Speaker 3: He left a little piece of paper to see that
Speaker 3: he was leaving and would be back the next day.
Speaker 3: But I never saw him again.
Speaker 7: Did you ever see the coin collection or part of
Speaker 7: the coin collection again?
Speaker 2: Nat Madame Flume agreed that some coins, but not all,
Speaker 2: were returned to her son in law Pierre. Questioning and
Speaker 2: cross examination continues in this vein for around half an
Speaker 2: hour until it is clear Madame Flume is becoming fatigued.
Speaker 1: The statement which the woman we refer to as Charlotte
Speaker 1: made to Belgium police on April tenth, twenty twelve, is
Speaker 1: also tendered to the court. We have a copy of it.
Speaker 1: The original is written in French, but there is another
Speaker 1: copy that has been translated to English. We can reveal
Speaker 1: that Charlotte was born in Tourney, Belgium, in nineteen fifty one,
Speaker 1: which would make her seventy two today. The statement is
Speaker 1: more than three pages long, but we've decided to include
Speaker 1: most of it. Other than some of the administrative sections.
Speaker 6: Here it is I am aware of the brief communication
Speaker 6: of facts for which I will be heard, that being
Speaker 6: a complaint for a scam against my distant cousin being
Speaker 6: Frederic David des de Veri, Elias Willy Waters alias Willi Carpanaul,
Speaker 6: Elias Willie David Carperanaul.
Speaker 1: Just so you know, we've removed the name of Charlotte's
Speaker 1: husband to protect her identity.
Speaker 6: Also, my husband passed away on the eleventh of July
Speaker 6: twenty eleven in Tourney. He was a banker for most
Speaker 6: of his life and ended his career in nineteen ninety nine.
Speaker 6: For me, I'm a retiree and worked as an employee
Speaker 6: of the Library Royale de Voussell for forty two years.
Speaker 6: My husband and I received every year a card from
Speaker 6: a first cousin living in Australia. These cards were signed Willie,
Speaker 6: and my husband told me that he had a cousin
Speaker 6: called Willie Waters who had been in the army in
Speaker 6: Brussels in the cavalry in the nineteen sixties, but without
Speaker 6: a doubt he had committed actions that caused him to
Speaker 6: no longer be able to return to Belgium, the country
Speaker 6: which he left at the end of the nineteen sixties.
Speaker 6: He moved to Australia in the mid seventies. I had
Speaker 6: only ever seen him once in twenty years in France.
Speaker 6: At the funeral of an end. Shortly after the death
Speaker 6: of my husband, the accused contacted me by telephone. He
Speaker 6: sent assorted cards and bit by bit he started to
Speaker 6: contact me by teleshone every week to give me news,
Speaker 6: as I had a wish to discover new horizons. He
Speaker 6: returned to Belgium on the twenty fourth of February twenty twelve.
Speaker 6: I went to meet him at the train station off
Speaker 6: a train coming from London. He stayed with me during
Speaker 6: this period and in the meantime we took a holiday
Speaker 6: in France. For the entire duration of his stay, he
Speaker 6: explained to me that he had a house in Australia
Speaker 6: on the Gold Coast, and he also owned a house
Speaker 6: in Bali, Indonesia. He offered for us to lift together,
Speaker 6: in which case he would loan me his property. Knowing
Speaker 6: that I wasn't short of money and that I owned
Speaker 6: real estate, he proposed that we invest in equal parts
Speaker 6: in the purchase of a property on the coast in
Speaker 6: Bali for us to live in between two holidays to Europe.
Speaker 6: He estimated the purchase at about two hundred thousand euros,
Speaker 6: and he proposed that I invest one hundred thousand euros
Speaker 6: and I accepted. We had decided to leave for Bali
Speaker 6: to finalize the project, and Willie had reserved two plane
Speaker 6: tickets return living from Amsterdam destination Bali. Our departure was
Speaker 6: scheduled for the twenty third of March twenty twelve, and
Speaker 6: the return trip remained open. I was the one who
Speaker 6: went and paid and collected the tickets at the agency
Speaker 6: in Tourney. I paid with my visa card the amount
Speaker 6: of about twenty five hundred euros, plus an extra three
Speaker 6: hundred euros for an upgrade to comfort class. The tickets
Speaker 6: were registered in my name and that of Willie David
Speaker 6: copanaul I remember the Australian passport of WILLI was in
Speaker 6: the anime of Willie David coppanaul. I made a remark
Speaker 6: concerning his name and he told me that the name
Speaker 6: came from the names of both his parents. I didn't
Speaker 6: ask anything further. I found it surprising that the day
Speaker 6: of the trip, Willy left before me on the first
Speaker 6: train from Torney to Brussels and then Amsterdam because he
Speaker 6: didn't want to run into anyone in Belgium. We found
Speaker 6: ourselves at the airport and had boarded for Bali to Singapore.
Speaker 6: On a KLM plane. After we arrived in Bali, Willi
Speaker 6: drove me to a hotel in Semniac. I asked Willy
Speaker 6: why we were not staying in his house in Bali,
Speaker 6: but he responded that it was currently being rented out for.
Speaker 3: A few weeks.
Speaker 6: During the following days, we just walked along the roads
Speaker 6: of Bali and did some shopping. Willie told me that
Speaker 6: he was waiting for a meeting with his businessmen on
Speaker 6: the twenty ninth of March twenty twenty one. I must
Speaker 6: tell you that I had given the money I had
Speaker 6: in cash to Willie before he left. Looking back, with
Speaker 6: Willie wanting to arrive at the airport first and by himself,
Speaker 6: I ask myself now the question that he may have
Speaker 6: deposited my cash in a Dutch bank account, because according
Speaker 6: to a Balley guide, it is very difficult to enter
Speaker 6: the country with that amount of cash because customs checking
Speaker 6: is very common. D given him the sum of one
Speaker 6: hundred thousand euros in five hundred and two hundred euro notes,
Speaker 6: an amount that I withdrew in two lots. Willie told
Speaker 6: me that he was leaving for his business meeting, but
Speaker 6: he never came back to the hotel. I did not
Speaker 6: know where it was because he didn't want to tell me,
Speaker 6: and it wasn't until the first of April that I
Speaker 6: received a message at my hotel to mine II cottage.
Speaker 6: I will give you this email, where Willy explains in
Speaker 6: a few words that he took the money as compensation
Speaker 6: for an amount that he had loaned my husband in
Speaker 6: a previous investment deal. He spoke of a copy of
Speaker 6: a receipt that he sent to an address in Tourney. However,
Speaker 6: I never received the receipt. Curiously, Willie never spoke at
Speaker 6: this previous investment, nor did my husband, who was a
Speaker 6: man of integrity, the proof being his exemplary career that
Speaker 6: he had. I then understood that I had been scammed
Speaker 6: and abused by this individual, and with the help of
Speaker 6: my interpreter, I was able to get my return ticket
Speaker 6: and returned to Belgium on Saturday, the seventh of April.
Speaker 6: What surprised me was that upon my return I discovered
Speaker 6: that Willie has also taken my jewelry, which was in
Speaker 6: a box inside the office of my husband. I had,
Speaker 6: in particular a ring of white gold set with thirteen
Speaker 6: diamonds in a circle, A ring estimated about six thousand euros.
Speaker 6: Assorted earrings in white gold, each set with a diamond,
Speaker 6: estimated value about three thousand euros. I also had my
Speaker 6: engagement and wedding rings, a Chevalier ring in yellow gold.
Speaker 6: I must add at this point that Willy also took
Speaker 6: a collection of Belgian stamps dating from nineteen seventy two,
Speaker 6: as well as a collection of euro coins. All in all,
Speaker 6: I estimate the theft to be about twenty five thousand euros.
Speaker 6: Bit by bit, I rebuilt my spirits and came to
Speaker 6: the realization that I had no means of contacting Willie.
Speaker 6: I know that during this stay from the twenty fourth
Speaker 6: of February to the twenty third of March, he made
Speaker 6: at least one phone call to Australia. In any case,
Speaker 6: that's what he told me. This phone call was made
Speaker 6: on my private number. As far as I know, Willy
Speaker 6: has no address in Belgium, but I think he still
Speaker 6: returns from time to time. Sometime before my husband's death,
Speaker 6: he spoke about problems Willie had with the law.
Speaker 1: The statement continues with Charlotte saying she could provide a
Speaker 1: recent photo of the accused, as well as reservation documents
Speaker 1: for the Barley trip, and she supplies an email address
Speaker 1: from which he sent an email. She explains how Willie
Speaker 1: does not have a precise mode of communication, and says
Speaker 1: that she gave him a SIM card with her old
Speaker 1: phone number and he had taken that with him. She
Speaker 1: had also tried to call the number he used in
Speaker 1: Australia in October twenty eleven, a few months before his
Speaker 1: trip to Belgium, she left a voicemail message. The statement
Speaker 1: contains a description of Willie, otherwise known as Rick Blum.
Speaker 6: Willie was about one meter and ninety centimeters tool. He
Speaker 6: had a seed build and dressed in a cool style.
Speaker 6: He had white hair, brown eyes, and now beard or mustache.
Speaker 6: He wore a very flat watch made of white gold.
Speaker 6: It was on medication for a prostette issue, but I
Speaker 6: took no notice of the brand. He spoke French with
Speaker 6: a very slight foreign accent. He spoke perfect English and
Speaker 6: also spoke Hungarian and German fluently. At my house he
Speaker 6: was on the internet on my laptop. I'm happy to
Speaker 6: give you that for analysis. I must also tell you
Speaker 6: that he requested that I buy for him, but in
Speaker 6: my name. Ancient Greek and Roman coins. He ordered by
Speaker 6: postal courier and they went to collect the coins. He
Speaker 6: gave me cash for the purchase, but I suppose now
Speaker 6: that that was part of the money that I had
Speaker 6: already given him, because he gave it to me the
Speaker 6: day before we left full Bali.
Speaker 2: The statement is dated April tenth, twenty twelve, and was
Speaker 2: taken at four point fifteen pm.
Speaker 6: I have nothing else to add.
Speaker 2: Day one is over. It's actually day fourteen of this inquest,
Speaker 2: which began on February first, twenty twenty two. Since then,
Speaker 2: the coroner has returned twice to hear more evidence. Rick
Speaker 2: Bloom has also twice given evidence in February and April
Speaker 2: last year, for a total of six days. As a
Speaker 2: new day dawns, he is about to appear for a
Speaker 2: third time to answer questions relating to the disappearance of
Speaker 2: Marion Barter.
Speaker 1: Members of the media, mostly photographers and camermon gather at
Speaker 1: Lismore Court shortly after eight am awaiting the arrival of
Speaker 1: Rick Blum. Court doesn't start until ten, but experiences Tartoise
Speaker 1: that people will try to avoid the glare of the
Speaker 1: media spotlight, and now he has a lawyer, he'll be
Speaker 1: advised of the best way to do this. Sure enough,
Speaker 1: he arrives in a black Volo suv being driven by
Speaker 1: his lawyer, Matthew Hitsc who drives right through the gate
Speaker 1: where we can't go and question him. There's a flurry
Speaker 1: of activity and a frenzy of camera shutters clicking as
Speaker 1: a front door opens and Rick Blum struggles to get out.
Speaker 1: Security guards three sheriffs prevent camera crews and journalists from
Speaker 1: getting too close, although some try. With a red zimmer
Speaker 1: frame in hand, he takes the few steps towards the
Speaker 1: door and into the building. He's exposed for a brief glimpse,
Speaker 1: and he looks a little different from last time. His
Speaker 1: white hair is shorter, his beard longer, and he appears
Speaker 1: to have lost weight. His face looks drawn. He's wearing
Speaker 1: an oversized gray pullover. Spotlight reporter Liam Bartlett is furious
Speaker 1: at the special treatment because they.
Speaker 4: Just protected him straight I just drove him straight in,
Speaker 4: and he had like two steps to take to get
Speaker 4: in the door, and they told us to get out
Speaker 4: because it's private. It's a private thoroughfare, So they let
Speaker 4: him in forty five minutes early, no other member of
Speaker 4: the public can access to the courthouse, but he can't
Speaker 4: work that out.
Speaker 2: Inside the court, there is little time wasted. Counsel assisting
Speaker 2: the coroner, Adam Causden, brings up the evidence we've heard
Speaker 2: the day before from Andre Flum, questioning Rick Bloom about
Speaker 2: his interactions with her.
Speaker 7: And you knew her, did you not? In twenty ten?
Speaker 5: Yeah?
Speaker 7: Did you stay with her in twenty ten in Belgium?
Speaker 5: Yeah?
Speaker 7: And did you stay with her in Belgium throughout the
Speaker 7: month of May and June in twenty ten?
Speaker 5: Her fortnight a fortnight?
Speaker 7: Could it be that it was closer to three weeks
Speaker 7: as opposed to two weeks?
Speaker 5: I don't remember.
Speaker 2: We should point out that mister Bloom begins his evidence
Speaker 2: with a very pronounced stutter. Anyone watching the live stream
Speaker 2: on YouTube can see and hear the way he talks.
Speaker 2: Yet as the day moves on, his stutter becomes less pronounced,
Speaker 2: often disappearing altogether. Mister Calsonton turns his focus to the
Speaker 2: coin collection that belonged to Madame Flume's late husband, which
Speaker 2: Rick Bloom learned about through Madame Flume's now deceased son
Speaker 2: in law, Pierre.
Speaker 7: Do you understand that Madame Flomm alleges against you that
Speaker 7: you stole from her a valuable coin collection that have
Speaker 7: belonged to her husband.
Speaker 5: No, because the collection twas given to me by Pierre.
Speaker 7: If it was given to you by Pierre, why did
Speaker 7: you send some of the collection back to Pierre? In
Speaker 7: June of twenty ten.
Speaker 5: I send the whole collection that he gave me. It
Speaker 5: was about two thousand.
Speaker 7: Madame Flomm says that you stole the coins, and that
Speaker 7: the coins you stole were valued in the order of
Speaker 7: perhaps fifteen thousand euros.
Speaker 2: Mister Bloom denies that. Next, he's asked about his allegations
Speaker 2: in court in February twenty twenty two, about the mental
Speaker 2: and physical health of Madame Flume when he knew.
Speaker 7: Her on the eighteenth of February last year. You said
Speaker 7: on your oath that Andre Flomm was in a wheelchair
Speaker 7: with Alzheimer's disease, and she couldn't put two words together.
Speaker 7: You said she was she had Alzheimer's disease and dementia,
Speaker 7: and she was sitting in a wheelchair in her room
Speaker 7: all day. You know, it was probably in a worse
Speaker 7: state than I am. Now, do you remember giving that
Speaker 7: evidence last.
Speaker 2: Year, mister Bloom tries to explain himself.
Speaker 5: I saw that way I was. I spent most of
Speaker 5: the time with Pierre at the library, and I only
Speaker 5: saw her when I left to the library in the
Speaker 5: morning and when I came back to my room.
Speaker 7: Do you remember me yesterday asking Madame Flomm some questions
Speaker 7: about whether she was confined to a wheelchair or whether
Speaker 7: she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia when you
Speaker 7: were staying with her in May and June of twenty ten.
Speaker 5: I heard that the daughter behind her say no.
Speaker 7: But coming to my question, please, mister Blum, did you
Speaker 7: hear me ask those questions of Madame Flomm yesterday? And
Speaker 7: did you observe when I asked Madam Flomm those questions
Speaker 7: yesterday that she had a chuckle a little laugh, and
Speaker 7: that her response to my question as to whether she
Speaker 7: was confined to a wheelchair or diagnosed with Alzheimer's or
Speaker 7: dementia in May or June of twenty ten, she said, smilingly, no,
Speaker 7: did you see that? And hear that?
Speaker 5: I don't think she answer any question from herself, mister Blum.
Speaker 7: I want to suggest to you that when you gave
Speaker 7: your evidence on oath on the eighteenth of February twenty
Speaker 7: twenty two. When you said Andrea Flomm was in a
Speaker 7: wheelchair with Alzheimer's disease and she couldn't put two words together?
Speaker 7: Was a lie? Do you accept that?
Speaker 5: No, That's the way I saw it, and I.
Speaker 7: Want to suggest to you that you invented that lie
Speaker 7: to undermine what Andre Flomm had written in a letter
Speaker 7: that was shown to you in February of last year.
Speaker 7: You accept that.
Speaker 5: No.
Speaker 2: Mister bloom Is then questioned about the allegations of Gulaane
Speaker 2: Dubois dan Lois. He admits traveling to Europe between June
Speaker 2: and September two thousand and six and writing a letter
Speaker 2: to Madame Dubois Danlois in response to a personal lad
Speaker 2: she had placed in a Belgian newspaper.
Speaker 7: You wrote her a letter and was the purpose of
Speaker 7: writing her a letter to firstly meet with her and
Speaker 7: perhaps form a friendship.
Speaker 5: No, no, meet her?
Speaker 7: Yes, but no she lived in Belgium, did she not?
Speaker 5: Yeah, she did.
Speaker 7: And in two thousand and six you lived in Australia,
Speaker 7: did you not with your wife of many years, Diane,
Speaker 7: and you had two children. Also living in Australia at
Speaker 7: that time. Why did you answer the ad placed by
Speaker 7: Madame Danois in two thousand and six in a Belgian newspaper.
Speaker 2: Rick Bloom responds in a fashion can't explain that in
Speaker 2: the past, when questioned about them many times he posed
Speaker 2: a single whilst married with children. Mister Bloom has also
Speaker 2: failed to explain himself. Mister Castleton continues.
Speaker 7: This was not the first time you had answered an
Speaker 7: advertisement that was placed by a single woman, was it correct?
Speaker 7: I want you to think about this, please, mister Bloom.
Speaker 7: What were your intentions of answering an advertisement placed by
Speaker 7: a woman in circumstances where you were married with children.
Speaker 5: I don't exactly remember the turn of.
Speaker 7: Where your intentions, mister Blum to seduce Madame d'anois and
Speaker 7: defraud her.
Speaker 5: No, no, sir.
Speaker 7: Did you ask her to collect catalogs in coin dealer's shops.
Speaker 5: She never did anything for me.
Speaker 7: You say she did nothing for you other than let
Speaker 7: you stay at her house.
Speaker 5: That's right, and having you know research, especially about the
Speaker 5: town and the detailed history of where I was born.
Speaker 2: He explains how he spent time at the library to
Speaker 2: learn more about the history of the town where he
Speaker 2: was born. Mister Counselton is not interested in this, and
Speaker 2: he continues with his line of questioning, when.
Speaker 7: You first met her, you were lodging at a university accommodation.
Speaker 5: I was in Brussels, I was, I was, I had
Speaker 5: a mon there and I spent most of my time
Speaker 5: there and at the library because to the library, I
Speaker 5: had the direct tramp from the union, whereas where she
Speaker 5: was living as far away.
Speaker 7: Madame Dunois has given evidence on oath that you moved
Speaker 7: into her place in Brussels.
Speaker 5: As a service. I stayed there for four or five days, and.
Speaker 7: She says you stayed there for some weeks. No, no,
Speaker 7: and that you're in a romantic relationship.
Speaker 5: What that was in a romantic relationship? No, no, sir.
Speaker 7: And you shared a bed together, No, in her place
Speaker 7: in Brussels in Belgium, and she says that she quickly
Speaker 7: fell in love with you. Did you read that in
Speaker 7: her statement to police?
Speaker 5: Yes, that statement is late.
Speaker 2: Mister counseledon fires off questions every single one, mister bloom rejects.
Speaker 7: Did you tell her you worked for a bank in Australia?
Speaker 7: Never did you ask her to marry you in Bali
Speaker 7: in Indonesia.
Speaker 5: No. No.
Speaker 7: Did you suggest to Madame d Wha that you should
Speaker 7: marry in Bali but for her not to tell her children?
Speaker 5: This is lie after lie? Why do you want me
Speaker 5: to see.
Speaker 7: On Madame Danois's account, mister Blum, it could be said
Speaker 7: that you are lying. Do you accept that?
Speaker 5: I don't accept it.
Speaker 7: Did you say to her that after you marry in Bali,
Speaker 7: you could come and live in Australia.
Speaker 2: No, And so it continues. He also denies suggesting that
Speaker 2: he would open bank accounts for each of Madame dan
Speaker 2: Lois's children in Australia.
Speaker 5: It just lies. What do you it's all elaborated. I
Speaker 5: don't know.
Speaker 7: You say today on your oath that Julaine Danois is
Speaker 7: telling lies?
Speaker 5: Hate to see it?
Speaker 2: Yes, mister Caunselton then brings up all of the other
Speaker 2: women who have made allegations about mister Bloom.
Speaker 7: Just like you said about Janet Oldenburg, correct, she too
Speaker 7: was lying.
Speaker 5: Janette Audanburg is laying.
Speaker 7: Yes, and just like you said about Jeanette Gafney Bowen,
Speaker 7: correct that she also lied.
Speaker 5: Well, yes, and just like you.
Speaker 7: Said about Monique Cornelius, that she also lied.
Speaker 5: That's why she never signed her She never sign she
Speaker 5: refused to sign the deposition she meet.
Speaker 7: And just like you said just now about Andre Flomm,
Speaker 7: that she also has lied.
Speaker 2: Mister Bloom claims other people made Andre Flume make allegations.
Speaker 2: He then blames this podcast for enticing so many women
Speaker 2: to come forward.
Speaker 7: Do you say that Jeanette Gaffney Bowen when she goes
Speaker 7: to police in nineteen ninety eight to complain about you,
Speaker 7: was in response to a podcast?
Speaker 5: Do you I can't see and you're aware.
Speaker 7: I want to suggest to you that any podcast relating
Speaker 7: to Marion Barter was not in existence, mister Bloom in
Speaker 7: nineteen ninety eight, would you accept that possible?
Speaker 5: You know it? Just what?
Speaker 7: And I want to suggest to you or say mister Bloom,
Speaker 7: that there was no podcast in relation to Marion Barter
Speaker 7: in nineteen ninety nine or early two thousand, when Janet
Speaker 7: Oldenburg went to police to complain about you. Do you
Speaker 7: accept that?
Speaker 5: If you say so?
Speaker 7: And I want to suggest to you, when Madame Danois
Speaker 7: went to the Belgian police to complain about you, there
Speaker 7: was no podcast in existence concerning Marion Barter. Do you
Speaker 7: accept that yeah, if you see it. And I want
Speaker 7: to suggest to you, mister Blum, when Madame Flomm wrote
Speaker 7: a letter complaining about you in July twenty ten, having
Speaker 7: also lodged a complaint with Belgian police that year, there
Speaker 7: was no podcast in relation to Marion Barter's existence.
Speaker 5: Do you accept that, Hay accept that year.
Speaker 7: I want to suggest to you, mister Blum, that is
Speaker 7: in fact you who is lying about what took place
Speaker 7: with the women I've just mentioned. Do you accept that?
Speaker 5: No, Sir.
Speaker 1: During a break on day two, I am approached by
Speaker 1: one of the police detectives investigating the disappearance of Marion Barter.
Speaker 1: They asked me if I'm willing to go with them
Speaker 1: right now to make a statement. This is highly unusual
Speaker 1: for a journalist to be asked to provide evidence to
Speaker 1: the police during an inquest, and I quickly agree. They
Speaker 1: want to know about the engagement announcement that Delaine has
Speaker 1: shown me when she thought she and Frederick de Heeadavari
Speaker 1: were going to get married in two thousand and six.
Speaker 1: The photo I have of the engagement notice is now
Speaker 1: part of the evidence.
Speaker 2: We have to wait to find out why the police
Speaker 2: wanted this document so urgently. We have noticed that despite
Speaker 2: mister Bloom's physical state, he appears to have no problem
Speaker 2: understanding what is being asked of him. Very soon, several
Speaker 2: questions and some new evidence will leave him and everyone
Speaker 2: in the court searching for answers. In the next episode,
Speaker 2: the inquest takes a shocking turn with not one.
Speaker 7: I want to suggest to you you were mister Blum
Speaker 7: and that your denials are alie, but.
Speaker 2: Two apparently damning contradictions.
Speaker 7: I suggest that you do know more than you are
Speaker 7: letting on about the whereabouts of Marion Barter.
Speaker 1: If you knew Marion or have any information about her
Speaker 1: or her whereabouts, we'd love to hear from you. Our
Speaker 1: website is sevennews dot com dot au, forward slash news
Speaker 1: forward slash the Lady Vanishers, and you can also message
Speaker 1: us here. You can also send us at anonymous tip
Speaker 1: at www dot Lady Vanishers dot org. If you like
Speaker 1: what you're hearing, don't forget to subscribe. Please rate and
Speaker 1: review our series. It helps new listeners find us. Presenter
Speaker 1: and executive producer Alison Sandy, investigative journalist Brian Seymour, writer
Speaker 1: and producer Sally Eels, Sound design Mark Wright graphics, Jason Blamford,
Speaker 1: translation and transcripts. A Stelle Sanchez voice actors or Willian Ritter, Veroni,
Speaker 1: Durcell and the Brisbane Newsroom. The theme and much of
Speaker 1: the music by Nicholas Gasparini at the Darkpiano dot com.
Speaker 1: Thanks again to Alliance Francis. This is a Seven News production.