By Erin Pearson
A man accused of killing a woman in Quambatook, a small town in Victoria’s far north-west, has faced court after a burnt body was found by emergency services responding to a fire near a cemetery earlier this week.
Brian Barnes, 67, was arrested on Wednesday in Welshmans Reef, 180 kilometres away from the crime scene, after human remains – believed to belong to a missing local woman, a much-respected volunteer and community organiser – were discovered about 6.30am on Tuesday.
Brian Barnes faced court on Thursday accused of murder.
Barnes, also known as Bert Barnes, faced Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. The court heard police were fighting to use a sample of Barnes’ DNA as part of their homicide investigation.
Defence lawyer Paul Kidd revealed his client was still unaware of the particulars of the allegations against him, including how police claim he had committed the alleged murder.
He asked magistrate Jarrod Williams to allow him time to talk to his client before any application was granted to hand over to detectives a saliva swab collected from Barnes late on Wednesday.
Emergency services were called to a grass fire at Quambatook, a small farming town on the Avoca River, on Tuesday before CFA crews discovered the remains.
An aerial view of Quambatook.
Kidd said it was in the interests of justice that his client knew more about the allegations against him before a decision was made on the swab.
“He should know the basis on [which] that application is made,” Kidd said.
“He was found unfit for interview yesterday. He does not know what allegations against him are. I think he’s entitled to know how it is police say he is the offender.”
The court heard it was Barnes’ first time in custody and he needed to be provided with blood pressure medication.
The police prosecutor, Leading Senior Constable Alan Walker, asked for 24 weeks for detectives to compile their brief of evidence against Barnes, 18 weeks longer than average, due to ongoing delays in the state’s forensic testing departments.
“There is a backlog … and it’s just growing,” Walker said.
The magistrate refused the request and suggested the prosecution apply for an extension if later required. He ordered the prosecution hand over its brief before March 19.
Barnes was remanded to reappear in court next week, when the DNA sample is expected to be discussed further.
Online, Barnes has posted regular videos on social media and referred to himself as a “skateboarder, snake catcher and hack gardener”.
A police spokesperson said the remains had not yet been formally identified.
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