I did not murder Christine Fenner: Witness

A MAN who was implicated in the disappearance of Christine Marie Fenner by his former partner during a Coronial Inquest last month took to the stand at Bundaberg Court House yesterday and denied any involvement

By Letea Cavander
A MAN who was implicated in the disappearance of Christine Marie Fenner by his former partner during a Coronial Inquest last month took to the stand at Bundaberg Court House yesterday and denied any involvement.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Barry Stevens questioned Royston Turner for two hours on the final day of the inquest, and asked if he had murdered Ms Fenner.
"No, I did not sir," Mr Turner replied.
During the final day of a Coronial Inquest into the mystery disappearance of Booyal woman Christine Marie Fenner, her daughter's former partner denied he had anything to do with the disappearance.
The inquest also heard the detective leading the investigation said she did not believe Ms Fenner was alive.
Ms Fenner was reported missing on February 17, 1999, and the coronial inquest into her death began in September this year.
At the first hearing last month Royston Turner was subpoenaed to give evidence before Coroner Jennifer Batts after his former partner Cyndi claimed a number of times while drunk that he had killed her mother.
Another witness questioned at the last sitting also claimed he was told by another man that Mr Turner had killed Ms Fenner.
As Mr Turner took the stand yesterday afternoon, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Barry Stevens asked the witness if he had been drinking, as he could smell alcohol.
"I had one can of rum," Mr Turner said.
The exchange between the police prosecutor and Mr Turner lasted almost two hours, in which the witness denied any knowledge of any aspect of Ms Fenner's disappearance.
Sgt Stevens asked him if he murdered the missing woman, removed her body from the caravan after she may have died or buried her anywhere in the area.
"No, I did not sir," Mr Turner repeatedly said.
The witness told the inquest he never said to Cindy he killed her mother and was with Cindy on the day Ms Fenner went missing in February 1999.
But the missing woman's daughter gave evidence last month that she was not with Mr Turner the day her mother disappeared.
Mr Turner said he has never been concerned about Ms Fenner's disappearance.
"I still believe she is alive and will turn up," he said. Mr Turner said his relationship with Ms Fenner was "good" and "fine", but peppered with financial disagreements.
Mr Turner was questioned about his lengthy criminal history, which included guilty pleas of domestic violence towards Cindy and other former partners.
He said a man's home was his "castle".
"Within the laws of God a man may be able to tell his wife or daughter to put on a longer skirt, but in society today you can't even tell your wife or daughter to do that," Mr Turner said.
After Mr Turner gave his evidence to the inquest, the last witness investigation leader Detective Senior Constable Meg Owens took to the stand.
She told the inquest she thought the missing woman was dead because her bank accounts had not been touched since she disappeared.
The detective also said there was not enough evidence to support the theory that she was murdered, or that she died of natural causes and her body was removed from the caravan.
Coroner Batts adjourned the inquest until December 11 when she will present her findings.

Originally published as I did not murder Christine Fenner: Witness