Shane Barker murder trial: Cedric and Noelene Jordan lodge appeal against murder conviction

An East Coast couple found guilty of murdering their ex-son-in-law and sentenced to more than two decades behind bars have lodged appeals against their conviction. LATEST

Cedric Harper Jordan and Noelene June Jordan (red jacket) leave the Supreme Court of Tasmania in Launceston on day one of the trial. Picture: Patrick Gee

An East Coast couple found guilty of murdering their ex-son-in-law and sentenced to more than two decades behind bars have lodged appeals against their conviction.

According to the notice of appeal filed in the Supreme Court, Swansea pair Noelene June Jordan, 68, and Cedric Harper Jordan, 71, found guilty last month of murdering Campbell Town man Shane Geoffrey Barker, 36, on the evening of August 2, 2009, have each appealed on three grounds.

In the wording of Noelene Jordan’s defence lawyer Grant Tucker, they are:

First, “That the conviction was unsafe and unsatisfactory in all the circumstances of the case.”

Second, “That the learned judge erried in fact and/or law by admitting evidence of a video experiment undertaken by a member of Tasmania Police.”

Alleged Campbell Town murder victim Shane Geoffrey Barker, 36. Picture: Facebook

And third, “That the learned judge erred in fact and/or law by failing to discharge two members of the jury when the nature of their pre-existing relationship became apparent to the court.”

According to Cedric Jordan’s notice of appeal, the “video experiment” related to a recreation of a crowbar being used to repair the underside of a vehicle.

It was the Crown case that the crowbar’s relevance was that the defendants fabricated their need to retrieve a borrowed crowbar from Mr Barker’s Campbell Town residence in order to explain any evidence they have left behind when murdering him.

It was the Jordans’ case that they in fact did retrieve a borrowed crowbar from Mr Barker’s as it was needed to repair a dented guard on the underside of a utility vehicle belonging to them.

A directions hearing on the appeals will be heard by Justice Stephen Estcourt on July 24.

The Jordans were each sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 12 years.