Shane Barker murder trial: Noelene Jordan’s brother Brett Jetson takes the stand

A phone call played to the jury in the Shane Barker murder trial has revealed an early police theory that the death may have been linked to an inter-family feud stretching back to the 1980s.

Tasmania Police detective Snr Sgt Rick Newman, depicted in Salamanca Square in 2022. Picture: Chris Kidd

Thursday, June 1: An intercepted phone call between a woman, accused alongside her husband of shooting to death their ex-son in law, and her brother has been played to a murder trial jury, wherein the woman expresses fears that someone close to her was speaking to police.

The trial of Swansea husband-and-wife Cedric Harper Jordan, 71, and Noelene June Jordan, 68, continued in Launceston Supreme Court on Thursday.

The defendants have pleaded not guilty to shooting Campbell Town man Shane Geoffrey Barker, 36, the ex-husband of their daughter Rachel Bowden (nee Jordan), four times on the evening of August 2, 2009.

On Thursday, a phone conversation between Noelene Jordan and her brother Brett Jetson from November 13, 2009, was played to the jury.

Mr Jetson commenced the conversation by telling Noelene he had been interviewed by police over Mr Barker’s death.

Noelene told her brother she and husband Cedric were both suspects.

“Last interview [police did with husband Cedric], they told him they thought he did it, and I was party to it,” Noelene said.

Mr Jetson then offered advice to his sister.

“Watch your back... they’re trying to weasel someone in the family to give ‘em more,” he said.

Noelene then confided her fears.

“You don’t know all the details and you don’t have to… somebody’s pointing the finger,” she said.

Noelene asked Mr Jetson whether he knew more than he was letting on.

“Honest truth, no,” he said.

During the recorded conversation, Mr Jetson revealed that he had been questioned about an altercation in the 1980s between himself, friend Chris Moss, and members of the Triffitt family, who are related to the Barkers.

“I’ve always been scared of the Triffitts, because of what happened to you and Mossy,” Noelene replied when Mr Jetson mentioned this.

She also voiced their parents’ belief that the Triffitts were also responsible for the theft of a caravan belonging to them.

Mr Barker’s cousin Scott Triffitt gave evidence briefly.

He was asked whether himself or his brother Dean had ever made threats against anyone in relation to their cousin’s death.

“No,” he replied.

‘We’ve checked footage’: Moment murder accused’s KFC alibi folds

Tuesday, May 30: The jury in the murder trial of an East Coast couple accused of shooting their daughter’s ex-husband to death in 2009 has been shown a police interview that captures the moment detectives reveal security footage does not support the pair’s alibi.

The trial of Swansea husband-and-wife Cedric Harper Jordan, 71, and Noelene June Jordan, 68, continued in Launceston Supreme Court on Tuesday.

The defendants have pleaded not guilty to shooting Campbell Town man Shane Geoffrey Barker, 36, the ex-husband of their daughter Rachel Bowden (nee Jordan), four times on the evening of August 2, 2009.

The trial previously heard that the defendants initially told police they had been home in Swansea the entire night of Mr Barker’s death, but after being confronted with telecommunications data that put them in the Northern Midlands at the relevant time, they said they had actually driven to KFC Kings Meadows for a feed.

Ms Bowden – against whom there is no allegation of wrongdoing, nor was she charged with any offences – previously told the jury under cross-examination that trips to KFC were a guilty pleasure of her parents.

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

On Tuesday, the jury was played a recording of a police record of interview with Cedric Jordan from October 30, 2009.

In the interview, Launceston CIB Detective Snr Sgt Rick Newman and another detective reveal that investigators had combed the restaurant’s CCTV footage on the day in question – and found no trace of him or his wife.

“We’ve checked security footage,” one of the detectives said.

“You didn’t go to KFC that night.

“(We’ve watched) hours and hours of footage, not just the time-frames that fit in with your phone (data).

“Hours before and hours after were watched by numerous people, neither you nor Noelene went into KFC.”

Cedric protested in response, “We did”.

An officer then asks Cedric bluntly – “You committed the murder of Shane Barker.”

“Nope,” Cedric responded.

The trial continues on Wednesday.

The moment detective knew Barker death was a homicide

Monday, May 29: A Tasmania Police detective has told the jury in the murder trial of an East Coast duo who have pleaded not guilty to shooting their daughter’s ex-husband to death in 2009 of the moment he realised the death was a homicide.

The trial of Swansea husband-and-wife Cedric Harper Jordan, 71, and Noelene June Jordan, 68, entered its sixth week in Launceston Supreme Court on Monday.

The defendants are accused of shooting Campbell Town man Shane Geoffrey Barker, 36, the ex-husband of their daughter Rachel Bowden (nee Jordan), four times on the evening of August 2, 2009.

His body was discovered inside his 2 East St residence the following morning, after his Roberts Limited co-workers raised the alarm following his failure to arrive for his shift.

Tasmania Police Senior Sergeant Rick Newman, who has investigated dozens of murders over his 35-year career with the service, gave evidence on Monday morning.

He said he was attached to Launceston CIB’s victims’ unit when his desk received a call on the morning of August 3 from Campbell Town Police requesting assistance following the discovery of Mr Barker’s body.

“I was informed he’d been found inside deceased,” Snr Sgt Newman told the court.

Upon entering the residence, he “observed blood on (Mr Barker’s) shirt” and a hole in the fabric.

Asked whether he looked under Mr Barker’s shirt, Snr Sgt Newman said he did: “I saw what I believed to be a bullet entry wound, I could see it tracking under the skin.”

“I immediately got everyone out of the house and yard, indicated a crime scene, and called in forensic experts,” he said.

Snr Sgt Newman told the court that the only sign of disturbance he could see in Mr Barker’s house was a shattered glass panel on the front door, which he said was from a local constable breaking it to gain access to the locked residence.

Earlier in the day, an intercepted telephone call between Noelene Jordan and her friend Colin Oates from October 5, 2009, was played to the jury.

Tasmania Police forensic officers at the scene of Mr Barker’s death, August 3, 2009. Picture: File

In it, she told Mr Oates she felt “physically unwell and mentally exhausted” from the pall of suspicion that had descended over she and her husband in the wake of Mr Barker’s death.

“All of our problems in life… (it) is other people who have created (them), you know?” she said.

“We try and plod along and someone else sticks another one (into us).

“It will have to come to an end.

“Each day I get that much better, as far as feeling better within myself.”

The trial continues on Tuesday.