Shane Barker murder trial: Swansea couple accused of estranged son-in-law’s murder

The ex-wife and daughter of slain Tasmanian man Shane Barker will be among the 50 or so witnesses to give evidence in the trial of the married couple accused of his murder. LATEST >>

Tasmania Police search for bullet casings in the field in East Street, Campbell Town, adjacent to the residence where Shane Barker was murdered in 2007 Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

UPDATE, 1.15PM: The ex-wife and daughter of slain Tasmanian man Shane Barker will be among the 50 or so witnesses to give evidence in the trial of the married couple accused of his murder.

Swansea couple Noelene June Jordan and Cedric Harper Jordan are facing murder charges in relation to the 36-year-old’s death.

They have both entered pleas of not guilty.

Mr Barker was last seen alive in Campbell Town on August 2, 2009.

The next day, his body was found inside his East St property. He had been shot several times.

Mr Barker’s ex-wife Rachel and daughter, a toddler at the time of her father’s death, will give evidence in the trial before Justice Robert Pearce in the Launceston Supreme Court.

The jury was sworn in on Monday then relieved to return Friday for opening addresses and the start of evidence.

It is now almost 14 years since Mr Barker was found dead.

Crown Prosecutor Jack Shapiro and Director of Public Prosecutions Daryl Coates arrive at the trial of Cedric Harper Jordan and Noelene June Jordan in relation to the murder of Shane Barker in 2009 at Campbell Town. Picture: Patrick Gee

The case went unsolved for more than a decade before a cold case unit started work on it back in 2015.

The Jordans were jointly charged with Mr Barker’s murder back in 2020.

They were aged 65 and 68 years old at the time.

The jury was told Mr Barker, who worked at Roberts Lts in the midlands town, and his wife were separated at the time he was killed.

The jury was also told, his wife had also started a new relationship with a man who will also be called to give evidence.

“By Tasmanian standards this will be a relatively long trial,” Justice Pearce told them.

“I expect the prosecution evidence will run until the end of May.”

The jury will be taken to the scene by bus during the trial.

The trial is expected to run at least two months.

At the time of the couple’s arrest, Acting Assistant Commissioner Ian Whish-Wilson said the charges were the culmination of a lengthy investigation by the Serious Organised Crime Division.

“The investigation has been complex and a team of dedicated investigators have worked tirelessly to ensure the family of Mr Barker, have confidence that Tasmania Police has conducted a thorough and exhaustive inquiry. Police have maintained close contact with Mr Barker’s family during the investigation,” he said back in 2020.

10.30AM: The jury is being selected this morning to hear evidence in a murder trial almost 14 years after a Tasmanian man was found shot dead at his home.

Shane Geoffrey Barker’s body was found inside his home in Campbell Town on August 3, 2009.

Mr Barker had suffered a number of gunshot wounds.

Campbell Town murder victim Shane Barker.

The case went cold for more than a decade before Noelene June Jordan and her husband Cedric Harper Jordan were charged with the 36-year-old’s murder.

Mr Barker was the couple’s estranged son-in-law.

The couple were aged 65 and 68 years old when they were charged in 2020.

The jury selection process, in the Launceston Supreme Court before Justice Robert Pearce, is expected to take several hours with opening addresses expected to be delivered this afternoon.

The trial is expected to run for two months.