Shane Barker murder trial updates: Noelene Jordan’s police interview played to jury

The jury in the trial of an East Coast couple accused of murdering their daughter’s ex-husband has been played a recording of a two-hour police interview with one of the accused.

Campbell Town man Shane Geoffrey Barker, 36. Picture: File

An East Coast woman who, alongside her husband, are on trial accused of murdering their daughter’s ex-husband in 2009, told investigating officers six weeks after the 36-year-old’s death that although she didn’t “particularly like” the deceased, neither did she hate him.

The trial of Swansea duo Noelene June Jordan, 68, and her husband Cedric Harper Jordan, 71, in Launceston Supreme Court, now in its fifth week, was on Wednesday played a recording of Noelene’s record of interview with Tasmania Police on September 21, 2009.

About six weeks earlier, on the morning of August 3, Campbell Town man Shane Geoffrey Barker had been discovered in his East St residence deceased with four bullet wounds.

It is the Crown case that the Jordans were motivated to kill Mr Barker following the irreconcilable breakdown of his marriage to their daughter Rachel Bowden (nee Jordan), with whom he shared a daughter.

Evandale woman Rachel Louise Bowden (nee Jordan), outside Launceston Supreme Court, May 4, 2023. Ms Bowden is giving evidence in the murder trial of her parents, Cedric and Noelene Jordan. Picture: Alex Treacy

In his opening statement delivered at the start of the trial, Crown prosecutor Daryl Coates said the Jordans were fearful Mr Barker would obtain full custody of their daughter/granddaughter and resentful that a police investigation had concluded Mr Barker was not in fact molesting his daughter, as they believed.

As captured by the recorded interview, Noelene told officers that she was “very disappointed the investigation (into the abuse allegations) had not gone further”.

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“We were horrified to think Shane would do something like that. We didn’t even tell (our son, Rachel’s brother) because we didn’t want it to become public knowledge,” Noelene told officers.

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

Noelene also said that it was her belief that the deceased was the one who made things “difficult” between he and his ex-wife Rachel, her daughter, following the divorce, which was initiated by Rachel in May 2007 when she reconnected with a former boyfriend.

“Shane’s biggest fear was that she was going to fleece him,” Noelene told police.

Noelene, asked about her feelings towards the deceased, expressed ambivalence on behalf of she and her husband.

“We didn’t particularly like him, at the end of the day, but I didn’t hate him,” Noelene said.

The trial continues on Friday, with tomorrow devoted to legal argument between the Crown and defence.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF THE TRIAL

– Jury questions about house, where alleged victim buried earn rebuke
– Murder trial: Diary of deceased’s ex-wife records spiralling feud

– Alleged murder victim joked ex-wife would shoot him, trial hears

– Blood in lungs, urine: Shane Barker’s final moments