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June 8, 2023 50 mins

The inquest into the disappearance of Marion Barter resumes, with two women in their 90s - the star witnesses. So determined are they to have their voices heard and their stories told, they get up in the middle of the night in Europe to recount their interactions with Ric Blum.


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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
This is the case of Marion Barter, a mother, teacher,
friend missing for twenty six years.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
You know something that she was going to vanish.

Speaker 3 (00:24):
That's for sure.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
The bizarre circumstances surrounding her disappearance, I'm not.

Speaker 4 (00:30):
Sure if it was intentional.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
There's something more foul afoot.

Speaker 5 (00:34):
If you could imagine a teacher coming straight from say
little house on the prairie to the eighties, that was
Marian Barter.

Speaker 3 (00:40):
What I say, whether you find Marian Barter dead or alive,
I honestly believe somebody has that key piece of information.

Speaker 1 (00:50):
And the relentless quest of a daughter to find her mum.

Speaker 6 (00:55):
Something had happened, Something has happened to make her leave.

Speaker 1 (01:01):
I am one hundred percent sure, one hundred percent sure
that somebody knows something. The Lady Vanishes, Episode forty eight.
I'm Alison Sandy.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
And I'm Brian Seymour.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
Six months have passed since the sudden decision of Coroner
Teresa O'Sullivan to delay handing down the findings of the
inquest into Marion Barter's disappearance. If you recall, the announcement
came at the eleventh hour. Sally, her husband Chris, and
their three children had already flown to Sydney in anticipation.

(01:50):
It was a shock at first and they had to regroup.

Speaker 2 (01:56):
Some weeks later we were officially told the reason for
the delay. There was new evidence which had just featured
in our latest podcast episodes detailing more alleged victims of
Rick Bloom. The new hearing was sent down for three
days in late May early June in Lismore in northern
New South Wales, though the coroner would not release the

(02:17):
names of those who would be called to give evidence.

Speaker 1 (02:23):
I set off for the two and a half hour
drive from Brisbane to Lismo on May thirty, twenty twenty three,
but not before I picked up an important someone from
the airport. One of our sleeves, Christina has again come
all the way from the United Kingdom. Are you always
being there for us when we went to the UK

(02:44):
and you sort of feeding out UK correspondent our proxy there?

Speaker 4 (02:49):
It just it really means what you received.

Speaker 1 (02:51):
So I was so cute.

Speaker 4 (02:52):
It's come a long way since four years ago. So
many developments been.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
Avertas to support funding throughout this journey.

Speaker 4 (03:04):
Her journey has been a very long journey. Feel privileged
to come in on that journey at a later.

Speaker 2 (03:13):
Stage, but quite a crucial studies. The Beau support her
and offer some help.

Speaker 1 (03:23):
I wish it could be more. I wish we could
fly as that leading the haystack.

Speaker 6 (03:28):
Maybe one day we will.

Speaker 1 (03:29):
We arrive in Lismore to find it still bears considerable
scars from floods last year. Still see devastation from recent
floods here. I from what I'm told, they haven't really
bounced that, as well as other places that were rubbaged
by floods. A lot of shops and businesses have never reopened.
Even the Grand Old Library looks abandoned. Before checking into

(03:54):
our accommodation, we check in with our camera crew, who
are busy collecting pictures around.

Speaker 5 (04:00):
We're going to go from.

Speaker 4 (04:01):
Here to look out, Okay, look out for probably back
down the streets.

Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah, do some stuff today and then we'll finish off
with Drove stuftly Cans.

Speaker 7 (04:10):
Sunset that's whatever.

Speaker 1 (04:13):
May the thirty first is a crisp, blue sky day.
It's also the last day of autumn, so it's very
fresh eight degrees celsius when I wake up, but gaining
in temperature as the morning wears on. It's an earlier
than usual start for court eight point thirty instead of
ten am. The reason is that a witness on the

(04:35):
other side of the world has stayed up very late
at night just so she can tell her story. The courthouse,
a boxy brick building, does not have Wi Fi, which
will make it difficult to live stream the proceedings if
I need to step out of the courtroom. I've spotted
at least four other journalists here, and the public gallery

(04:55):
fills up quickly. I've spoken to a few of those
who've turned up. One has come from Sydney, another from Newcastle,
and there's a man who I've never seen before. He
stands out mostly because his phone unexpectedly goes off in court,
and I make a mental note to find out.

Speaker 5 (05:13):
Who he is.

Speaker 1 (05:15):
Most people are wearing black, gray or navy, so I
feel a bit conspicuous in my red suit. There's a
French language interpreter seated in the witness box, but there's
no sign of Rick Blum or his wife Diane. Although
mister Blum is represented this time, he has a barrister,

(05:36):
Matthew White sc.

Speaker 3 (05:38):
Was he trying to avoid media's scrutiny by not turning.

Speaker 5 (05:41):
Up of course not, of course not.

Speaker 1 (05:46):
The standard cost for a senior council is one thousand
dollars per hour and for specific court proceedings eight thousand
dollars per day. It's not clear how mister Blum is
funding that kind of expensive legal aid on disability pension.
We don't know how mister Blum found a senior council
to represent him, but we should point out under the

(06:08):
cab Rank rule, a barrister must accept a brief unless
they have a specific reason they cannot do the work
or are unavailable. As we wait for the first witness,
I should remind you that we can't use the audio
from the actual inquest. Again, we have engaged voice actors
to speak the words heard by the coroner.

Speaker 2 (06:32):
I'm tuning into the live stream from Sydney Council assisting
the coroner. Adam casselten opens the proceedings.

Speaker 7 (06:40):
This is the fifth tranch of hearings of the Inquest
into the Disappearance of Marion Barter, also known as Florabella
Natalia Marion Ramachel. This tranch is taking place notwithstanding that
in the latter part of last year, your Honor received
all relevant evidence and submissions from interested parties in writing
and orally in court. The inquest has taken such a

(07:01):
course because, as has been made clear in these proceedings,
the investigation into the disappearance and suspected death of Marion
Barter is ongoing. Those assisting Your Honor have become aware
of two other women who allegedly had interactions with mister
Blum in Europe in the years following the disappearance of
Marion Barter.

Speaker 2 (07:22):
Mister Cassadin names Julaane Duboisdan Nois and another woman also
in Europe, whom we have previously referred to as Charlotte
in this podcast as she doesn't want her true name revealed.
We learned that Charlotte won't be giving evidence at these proceedings,
but a statement she gave to Belgian police in twenty
twelve has been tended to the court. However, Gulaane Dubois

(07:47):
de Nois will be recounting her interactions with Rick Bloom
aka Frederick de Hettiary back in two thousand and six.
She will allege that she became engaged to mister day
Heady and he'd encouraged her to sell her house and
move to Australia to start a new life with him.

(08:09):
The court also hears that ninety two year old Andre
Flume also encountered Frederick de Headevy in twenty ten and
will also be getting up in the early hours of
the morning in Portugal, where she now lives, to ensure
her evidence is heard via livelink. Madame Flume claims mister
Daheedevry stole her late husband's valuable coin collection. After that,

(08:33):
Rick Bloom will again be called to the stand to
respond to the claims made by the two women, But
before the evidence begins, mister Kasdon, as he has done previously,
makes a call for anyone with information about Marion Barter
to come forward.

Speaker 7 (08:50):
The disappearance of Marion Barter continues to be an ongoing
investigation by New South Wales Police. If any member of
the public has any information rioting to the disapp appearance
of Marion Barter or information relating to Florabella ramical I
strongly encourage you to come forward and to share that
information with New South Wales Police or crime stoppers.

Speaker 2 (09:11):
A familiar face pops up on the screen. It is
ninety two year old Julaine Dubois dan Lois. Julaane is
in Brussels, and the interpreter is in Lismore. Both give
their affirmation. It is twelve thirty a m. In Brussels.
Given the late hour, it's no wonder she appears weary.

(09:34):
At times, she trembles and her eyes water. This is
hard for her. Coroner Rienza O'Sullivan thanks the witness for
staying awake so late to give evidence. In reply, Julane says,
this I know.

Speaker 3 (09:50):
But it is so important for me to bear witness.

Speaker 2 (09:55):
Through the interpreter. Miss Dubois dan Lois tells the court
she met Frederic to Head of Rey in two thousand
and six, although later learned that he went by several
other names as well. She says he responded to an
ad she had placed in a newspaper.

Speaker 3 (10:10):
I had asked for a handwritten letter, which he sent
and it was a very nice letter, with no spelling errors,
and very interesting.

Speaker 2 (10:21):
Their first meeting was in a cafe in Brussels in
June two thousand and six, and the last time she
saw him was three months later in September. Their friendship
had quickly blossomed into romance. Because she knew he was
staying in student accommodation, Julane invited Frederic to heavy to
stay at her home. He accepted immediately and they shared a.

Speaker 3 (10:45):
Bed, but he had said to me beforehand that it
was abnormally frigid.

Speaker 5 (10:55):
She says.

Speaker 2 (10:55):
He told her he lived in Australia where he was
a bank manager, and was in Belgium to look for
old coins as.

Speaker 5 (11:02):
He was a collector.

Speaker 2 (11:04):
The court is told he invited miss duoisdan Nois to
get married at a resort in Bali, and suggested they
would later live in Australia. She agreed so long as
she could visit her children and they could come to
visit her.

Speaker 3 (11:20):
I was fond of him and I wanted to live
with him in Australia.

Speaker 2 (11:26):
But Frederic Deheadevry did not want Julaine Dubois dan Nois
to tell her children of their plans to marry.

Speaker 3 (11:34):
Simply, he was saying, because it's more fun, It would
be more practical to tell them once we were married.
But that is exactly what I would not accept.

Speaker 2 (11:47):
She insisted on telling her children and they were very
surprised and astonished. However, she said they didn't try to
stop her because they loved her and wanted her to
have freedom. After their father's death, mister Bois d'in lois
tells the court. When she started making preparations to move
to Australia, Frederick de Heeadevry chose items of value around

(12:10):
her house and put them into two trunks. He said
he would have them shipped to Australia so she'd have
them when she arrived, but she has not seen those
items again. He also asked her to undergo particular medical examinations,
an ultrasound of the liver and a sleep examination before
she traveled to Australia, and he requested she put her

(12:34):
house up for sale.

Speaker 3 (12:35):
So he asked me to sell my house, and then
he asked me to give him the money so that
he could open bank accounts in his bank for my children.
And I had four children, and that would be four
separate bank accounts, so that when they visited me, they

(12:56):
could find their very own money in their own bank account.
He took advantage of the love I had for my
children to steal my money.

Speaker 2 (13:09):
The court is she took money from her shares, investments
and savings and gave it to Frederick, thehead of Rey,
about seventy two thousand euros in cash to set up
the bank accounts and every time she went to make
a withdrawal from an account, he would always accompany her.
But she decided not to hand over the proceeds from

(13:32):
the sale of her house.

Speaker 3 (13:34):
No, because my son, who lives in France, told me
that there was a house for sale near him and
I was thinking of giving him money to buy the house,
and Frederick understood at that point that he was not
going to get the money. That's when he left. So

(13:58):
my son and his partner had organized a meal and
we had a date, but he never came. I got
worried because he had on him. So he said a
large sum of money for purchasing coins, and I was

(14:18):
frightened for him.

Speaker 2 (14:20):
She contacted the police and they told her not to
worry because he'd been seen in Amsterdam and was in
good health. She later spotted him one day on the
streets of Brussels.

Speaker 3 (14:33):
We were walking on each side of the street, and
I think he saw me first and he dove into
a chocolate store, probably to avoid me making a scene.

Speaker 2 (14:46):
The court heard that Frederick de Hedevry never gave mister
Bois d'An lois the seventy two thousand euros back, although
he did give her a warning. A few days after
he left.

Speaker 3 (14:57):
One day he called me from Brussels in in Belgium,
and I said to him, give me back what you
took from me, and he said, I took nothing from you,
but if I hear from you again, I think he
met he was worried that I might lodge a complaint,
you will have to deal with me. I think he

(15:20):
was hinting at some form of revenge.

Speaker 2 (15:24):
And the only reason he gave for ending the relationship.

Speaker 3 (15:27):
In some ways, it's quite laughable, he said, because you're
noisy when you drink. Eventually I understood that he never
loved me and all he wanted was my money.

Speaker 2 (15:45):
When she realized she'd been duped, she made a complaint
to Belgian police, and that's when she realized Frederick dhead
of Rey may have had other names.

Speaker 3 (15:54):
When I went to launch a complaint, the police asked
me does he have any other names? And of course
I knew nothing of that, and they said, we can't
find much under his name.

Speaker 1 (16:11):
Sally Leyden's lawyer, Bradley Smith, asked Miss du Bois dan
Nois whether Frederic d'hevari wanted her to give back the
letter he had sent her. She agrees, saying he told
her he would frame it so they could put it
above their bed in Australia, but she never saw the
letter again. She is also quizzed about a statement Belgian

(16:35):
police asked her to make in twenty thirteen. Mister Bois
Danois said it was because Frederic d'heevari had targeted another
woman in Tournay in Belgium.

Speaker 3 (16:46):
They gave me no name, but they said this poor
lady had been abandoned without any money in Bali and
she was completely left without anything and very sad.

Speaker 2 (17:03):
She also told the court that Frederick d Head of
Veryan had told her he was involved in the Vietnam
War as a volunteer and that he had an interest
in poison and would speak about it often.

Speaker 3 (17:16):
In the end, what I was really worried about was
his interest in poison, because on two occasions I was
afraid of him.

Speaker 2 (17:27):
After identifying the man she knew as Frederick d. Headroverin photographs,
Miss de Wire d'An lois had a heartfelt question of
her own for the coroner.

Speaker 3 (17:36):
I would like to know whether you have any hope
of finding the lady who disappeared. I'm very keen to
know that, especially for her daughter.

Speaker 2 (17:47):
The coroner replies, on behalf of Sally Leyden, thank you.

Speaker 3 (17:51):
I am sure she appreciates your assistance. I hope that
that can help the daughter who lost her mother who disappeared,
and hope that she can she may be found again.

Speaker 1 (18:05):
The court is adjourned until around eleven thirty am. That's
when Matthew ysc the barrister representing Rick Blum, makes an
application to the coroner on behalf of his client. This
matter is not life streamed, but it is heard in

(18:26):
an open court, which is why we can report it.
Mister White requests that Rick Blum appear to give evidence
remotely via audio video link rather than in person, as
he has done previously. He argues that mister Blum is
in poor health, has experienced a decline immobility and cognitive ability,

(18:47):
and fears the threat of media harassment. He presents a
medical report from mister Blum's doctor, dated May twenty third,
saying mister Blum suffered from anxiety attacks, debilitating headaches, and
back pain, and was on strong painkillers. He had experienced
some quote visible cognitive decline over the past twelve months

(19:09):
and now has travel conversing and would do better without
the distracting noise he'd experience in a courtroom. Mister White
argues that his client also found dealing with the media
quote very challenging, and he had already given evidence concerning
the disappearance of Marion Barter. Mister Blum now lives at

(19:29):
an age care respite center in Bangalow, about half an
hour's drive from Lismore. It is suggested that he could
appear via video link from there or from his ball
and a home where he could be assisted by his wife,
and he'd also need frequent breaks. But counsel assisting Adam
Casselton opposes the application, saying mister Blum's medical concerns could

(19:52):
be addressed and he needed to respond in person to
the serious allegations involving women who had interacted with him
in in the past. Coroner Theresa O'Sullivan agrees, saying the
court had the facilities to accommodate him and his concerns,
and she reiterates that he was an important witness whose
physical presence was required. Also, the inquest was transported to

(20:17):
Lismore and it appears given he was the only one
to physically give evidence there that it was because of him.
Mister Blum is called to give evidence at ten am
the following day, June the first. Oh and that man
in court whose phone went off, the one I mentioned earlier.

(20:37):
I found out who he is. His name is John.
He's Marian's former brother in law, the ex husband of
Marion's sister Deirdre. He doesn't say much to me, but
he does divulge at Marian seemed to have a self
destructive streak when he knew her, and he remembers how
Deirdre would care for her through her many broken hearts.

Speaker 2 (21:06):
After the application for mister Bloom's barrister, the court is
adjourned for a number of hours before resuming at three
pm once again. The reason for this is to allow
for the time difference between Australia and Europe, because the
next witness is ninety two year old Andre Flume. She

(21:27):
appears via videolink from Portugal, where it is now six
o'clock in the morning. She has a supporter with her
and only the top half of her face is visible
on the screen. Once again, an interpreter is sitting in
the witness stand in the Court at Lismore. While it's
early in the morning for Madame Flume and she seems

(21:47):
a little tired, it is clear that she has a
sharp memory. The court heard that she had come to
know a man from Australia named Frederic de Hedevy in
May twenty ten. She had met him through her daughter
and son in law, Pierre, who back then worked out
of Brussels Library, which is where he first met Frederick
de Headevy. When Madame Flume heard that Dhadevvery was looking

(22:11):
for a place to stay, she agreed he could stay
in a bedroom at her home, which he did from
May tenth to June the fourth, twenty ten. While it's
the first time Andre Flume has given evidence in these proceedings,
longtime listeners will likely find the name familiar. After her

(22:33):
dealings with mister de Headevy, Madame Flume wrote a letter
to the Queensland Governor. That letter is now on file
at the State Archives and has been referred to throughout
the inquest. It stated July twenty six, twenty ten, not
long after Madame Flume's interactions with mister de Headevy. In it,
she claims that he stole her late husband's coin collection

(22:57):
worth twenty thousand euros, and that he's a liar, not
to be trusted and is wanted by Belgian police. And
if you cast your mind back to mister Bloom's appearance
at the inquest in February twenty twenty two, or just
re listen to episode thirty three of this podcast, you'll
discover what mister Bloom had to say about Andre Flume

(23:18):
and her allegations when quizzed by Adam Casselten. First, mister
Bloom explained that he'd been invited by Madame Flume's daughter
and son in law to look at some old coins
that had belonged to her husband, who had recently passed away.
Then he got personal. In February twenty twenty two, Rick

(23:42):
Bloom told the court that Andrea Flume could not put
two words together, she had Alzheimer's and dementia and sat
in a wheelchair in her room all day. Mister Carsleton
put those assertions to Madame Flume directly.

Speaker 7 (23:57):
While mister d Hadaveri was staying with you in twenty ten.
Were you confined to a wheelchair?

Speaker 3 (24:03):
No?

Speaker 7 (24:03):
Not that all well, Frederic Ahadaveri stayed with you did
you need to use a wheelchair from time to time?

Speaker 3 (24:09):
No, no, never.

Speaker 7 (24:11):
At that time that he stayed with you, had you
been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia?

Speaker 2 (24:16):
Madame Flume chuckles at the suggestion.

Speaker 3 (24:19):
No, no, never.

Speaker 7 (24:21):
Mister Cassidon continues, during the time that he stayed with you,
were you able to put more than two words together?
Madame Flume clearly finds that suggestion ridiculous and highly amusing.
She laughs as she responds yes. She denies that doctors
were coming to see her frequently while mister Deheaervy was
staying and claims he offered to value her husband's coin collection.

(24:45):
What became of your husband's coin collection?

Speaker 3 (24:48):
I don't have it anymore. It was him who took it.

Speaker 7 (24:51):
How do you know that it was Frederic Aheevari that
took it.

Speaker 3 (24:54):
He was viewing the coins and I went out for
an errant, and when I came everything was gone.

Speaker 7 (25:02):
When you say everything was gone, do you mean everything?

Speaker 4 (25:05):
No?

Speaker 3 (25:06):
The coin collection.

Speaker 7 (25:08):
Did Frederick ever say that he would send you money
for the value of your coin collection?

Speaker 3 (25:12):
He didn't see anything. He just left with it, that's all.

Speaker 7 (25:16):
Did he leave a note or a message for you
while you were out.

Speaker 3 (25:19):
He left a little piece of paper to see that
he was leaving and would be back the next day.
But I never saw him again.

Speaker 7 (25:30):
Did you ever see the coin collection or part of
the coin collection again?

Speaker 2 (25:34):
Nat Madame Flume agreed that some coins, but not all,
were returned to her son in law Pierre. Questioning and
cross examination continues in this vein for around half an
hour until it is clear Madame Flume is becoming fatigued.

Speaker 1 (25:50):
The statement which the woman we refer to as Charlotte
made to Belgium police on April tenth, twenty twelve, is
also tendered to the court. We have a copy of it.
The original is written in French, but there is another
copy that has been translated to English. We can reveal
that Charlotte was born in Tourney, Belgium, in nineteen fifty one,

(26:12):
which would make her seventy two today. The statement is
more than three pages long, but we've decided to include
most of it. Other than some of the administrative sections.

Speaker 6 (26:22):
Here it is I am aware of the brief communication
of facts for which I will be heard, that being
a complaint for a scam against my distant cousin being
Frederic David des de Veri, Elias Willy Waters alias Willi Carpanaul,
Elias Willie David Carperanaul.

Speaker 1 (26:44):
Just so you know, we've removed the name of Charlotte's
husband to protect her identity.

Speaker 6 (26:49):
Also, my husband passed away on the eleventh of July
twenty eleven in Tourney. He was a banker for most
of his life and ended his career in nineteen ninety nine.
For me, I'm a retiree and worked as an employee
of the Library Royale de Voussell for forty two years.

(27:10):
My husband and I received every year a card from
a first cousin living in Australia. These cards were signed Willie,
and my husband told me that he had a cousin
called Willie Waters who had been in the army in
Brussels in the cavalry in the nineteen sixties, but without
a doubt he had committed actions that caused him to

(27:33):
no longer be able to return to Belgium, the country
which he left at the end of the nineteen sixties.
He moved to Australia in the mid seventies. I had
only ever seen him once in twenty years in France.
At the funeral of an end. Shortly after the death
of my husband, the accused contacted me by telephone. He

(27:55):
sent assorted cards and bit by bit he started to
contact me by teleshone every week to give me news,
as I had a wish to discover new horizons. He
returned to Belgium on the twenty fourth of February twenty twelve.
I went to meet him at the train station off
a train coming from London. He stayed with me during

(28:18):
this period and in the meantime we took a holiday
in France. For the entire duration of his stay, he
explained to me that he had a house in Australia
on the Gold Coast, and he also owned a house
in Bali, Indonesia. He offered for us to lift together,
in which case he would loan me his property. Knowing

(28:39):
that I wasn't short of money and that I owned
real estate, he proposed that we invest in equal parts
in the purchase of a property on the coast in
Bali for us to live in between two holidays to Europe.
He estimated the purchase at about two hundred thousand euros,
and he proposed that I invest one hundred thousand euros

(29:00):
and I accepted. We had decided to leave for Bali
to finalize the project, and Willie had reserved two plane
tickets return living from Amsterdam destination Bali. Our departure was
scheduled for the twenty third of March twenty twelve, and
the return trip remained open. I was the one who

(29:22):
went and paid and collected the tickets at the agency
in Tourney. I paid with my visa card the amount
of about twenty five hundred euros, plus an extra three
hundred euros for an upgrade to comfort class. The tickets
were registered in my name and that of Willie David
copanaul I remember the Australian passport of WILLI was in

(29:46):
the anime of Willie David coppanaul. I made a remark
concerning his name and he told me that the name
came from the names of both his parents. I didn't
ask anything further. I found it surprising that the day
of the trip, Willy left before me on the first
train from Torney to Brussels and then Amsterdam because he

(30:09):
didn't want to run into anyone in Belgium. We found
ourselves at the airport and had boarded for Bali to Singapore.
On a KLM plane. After we arrived in Bali, Willi
drove me to a hotel in Semniac. I asked Willy
why we were not staying in his house in Bali,
but he responded that it was currently being rented out for.

Speaker 3 (30:31):
A few weeks.

Speaker 6 (30:33):
During the following days, we just walked along the roads
of Bali and did some shopping. Willie told me that
he was waiting for a meeting with his businessmen on
the twenty ninth of March twenty twenty one. I must
tell you that I had given the money I had
in cash to Willie before he left. Looking back, with

(30:56):
Willie wanting to arrive at the airport first and by himself,
I ask myself now the question that he may have
deposited my cash in a Dutch bank account, because according
to a Balley guide, it is very difficult to enter
the country with that amount of cash because customs checking

(31:17):
is very common. D given him the sum of one
hundred thousand euros in five hundred and two hundred euro notes,
an amount that I withdrew in two lots. Willie told
me that he was leaving for his business meeting, but
he never came back to the hotel. I did not
know where it was because he didn't want to tell me,

(31:38):
and it wasn't until the first of April that I
received a message at my hotel to mine II cottage.
I will give you this email, where Willy explains in
a few words that he took the money as compensation
for an amount that he had loaned my husband in
a previous investment deal. He spoke of a copy of

(32:01):
a receipt that he sent to an address in Tourney. However,
I never received the receipt. Curiously, Willie never spoke at
this previous investment, nor did my husband, who was a
man of integrity, the proof being his exemplary career that
he had. I then understood that I had been scammed

(32:21):
and abused by this individual, and with the help of
my interpreter, I was able to get my return ticket
and returned to Belgium on Saturday, the seventh of April.
What surprised me was that upon my return I discovered
that Willie has also taken my jewelry, which was in
a box inside the office of my husband. I had,

(32:41):
in particular a ring of white gold set with thirteen
diamonds in a circle, A ring estimated about six thousand euros.
Assorted earrings in white gold, each set with a diamond,
estimated value about three thousand euros. I also had my

(33:02):
engagement and wedding rings, a Chevalier ring in yellow gold.
I must add at this point that Willy also took
a collection of Belgian stamps dating from nineteen seventy two,
as well as a collection of euro coins. All in all,
I estimate the theft to be about twenty five thousand euros.

(33:23):
Bit by bit, I rebuilt my spirits and came to
the realization that I had no means of contacting Willie.
I know that during this stay from the twenty fourth
of February to the twenty third of March, he made
at least one phone call to Australia. In any case,
that's what he told me. This phone call was made
on my private number. As far as I know, Willy

(33:46):
has no address in Belgium, but I think he still
returns from time to time. Sometime before my husband's death,
he spoke about problems Willie had with the law.

Speaker 1 (33:58):
The statement continues with Charlotte saying she could provide a
recent photo of the accused, as well as reservation documents
for the Barley trip, and she supplies an email address
from which he sent an email. She explains how Willie
does not have a precise mode of communication, and says
that she gave him a SIM card with her old
phone number and he had taken that with him. She

(34:21):
had also tried to call the number he used in
Australia in October twenty eleven, a few months before his
trip to Belgium, she left a voicemail message. The statement
contains a description of Willie, otherwise known as Rick Blum.

Speaker 6 (34:37):
Willie was about one meter and ninety centimeters tool. He
had a seed build and dressed in a cool style.
He had white hair, brown eyes, and now beard or mustache.
He wore a very flat watch made of white gold.
It was on medication for a prostette issue, but I

(34:58):
took no notice of the brand. He spoke French with
a very slight foreign accent. He spoke perfect English and
also spoke Hungarian and German fluently. At my house he
was on the internet on my laptop. I'm happy to
give you that for analysis. I must also tell you
that he requested that I buy for him, but in

(35:19):
my name. Ancient Greek and Roman coins. He ordered by
postal courier and they went to collect the coins. He
gave me cash for the purchase, but I suppose now
that that was part of the money that I had
already given him, because he gave it to me the
day before we left full Bali.

Speaker 2 (35:39):
The statement is dated April tenth, twenty twelve, and was
taken at four point fifteen pm.

Speaker 6 (35:45):
I have nothing else to add.

Speaker 2 (35:48):
Day one is over. It's actually day fourteen of this inquest,
which began on February first, twenty twenty two. Since then,
the coroner has returned twice to hear more evidence. Rick
Bloom has also twice given evidence in February and April
last year, for a total of six days. As a

(36:10):
new day dawns, he is about to appear for a
third time to answer questions relating to the disappearance of
Marion Barter.

Speaker 1 (36:22):
Members of the media, mostly photographers and camermon gather at
Lismore Court shortly after eight am awaiting the arrival of
Rick Blum. Court doesn't start until ten, but experiences Tartoise
that people will try to avoid the glare of the
media spotlight, and now he has a lawyer, he'll be
advised of the best way to do this. Sure enough,

(36:48):
he arrives in a black Volo suv being driven by
his lawyer, Matthew Hitsc who drives right through the gate
where we can't go and question him. There's a flurry
of activity and a frenzy of camera shutters clicking as
a front door opens and Rick Blum struggles to get out.

(37:11):
Security guards three sheriffs prevent camera crews and journalists from
getting too close, although some try. With a red zimmer
frame in hand, he takes the few steps towards the
door and into the building. He's exposed for a brief glimpse,
and he looks a little different from last time. His

(37:32):
white hair is shorter, his beard longer, and he appears
to have lost weight. His face looks drawn. He's wearing
an oversized gray pullover. Spotlight reporter Liam Bartlett is furious
at the special treatment because they.

Speaker 4 (37:48):
Just protected him straight I just drove him straight in,
and he had like two steps to take to get
in the door, and they told us to get out
because it's private. It's a private thoroughfare, So they let
him in forty five minutes early, no other member of
the public can access to the courthouse, but he can't
work that out.

Speaker 2 (38:08):
Inside the court, there is little time wasted. Counsel assisting
the coroner, Adam Causden, brings up the evidence we've heard
the day before from Andre Flum, questioning Rick Bloom about
his interactions with her.

Speaker 7 (38:20):
And you knew her, did you not? In twenty ten?

Speaker 5 (38:23):
Yeah?

Speaker 7 (38:24):
Did you stay with her in twenty ten in Belgium?

Speaker 5 (38:27):
Yeah?

Speaker 7 (38:28):
And did you stay with her in Belgium throughout the
month of May and June in twenty ten?

Speaker 5 (38:32):
Her fortnight a fortnight?

Speaker 7 (38:35):
Could it be that it was closer to three weeks
as opposed to two weeks?

Speaker 5 (38:39):
I don't remember.

Speaker 2 (38:41):
We should point out that mister Bloom begins his evidence
with a very pronounced stutter. Anyone watching the live stream
on YouTube can see and hear the way he talks.
Yet as the day moves on, his stutter becomes less pronounced,
often disappearing altogether. Mister Calsonton turns his focus to the
coin collection that belonged to Madame Flume's late husband, which

(39:04):
Rick Bloom learned about through Madame Flume's now deceased son
in law, Pierre.

Speaker 7 (39:08):
Do you understand that Madame Flomm alleges against you that
you stole from her a valuable coin collection that have
belonged to her husband.

Speaker 5 (39:17):
No, because the collection twas given to me by Pierre.

Speaker 7 (39:22):
If it was given to you by Pierre, why did
you send some of the collection back to Pierre? In
June of twenty ten.

Speaker 5 (39:29):
I send the whole collection that he gave me. It
was about two thousand.

Speaker 7 (39:35):
Madame Flomm says that you stole the coins, and that
the coins you stole were valued in the order of
perhaps fifteen thousand euros.

Speaker 2 (39:42):
Mister Bloom denies that. Next, he's asked about his allegations
in court in February twenty twenty two, about the mental
and physical health of Madame Flume when he knew.

Speaker 7 (39:53):
Her on the eighteenth of February last year. You said
on your oath that Andre Flomm was in a wheelchair
with Alzheimer's disease, and she couldn't put two words together.
You said she was she had Alzheimer's disease and dementia,
and she was sitting in a wheelchair in her room
all day. You know, it was probably in a worse
state than I am. Now, do you remember giving that

(40:14):
evidence last.

Speaker 2 (40:15):
Year, mister Bloom tries to explain himself.

Speaker 5 (40:18):
I saw that way I was. I spent most of
the time with Pierre at the library, and I only
saw her when I left to the library in the
morning and when I came back to my room.

Speaker 7 (40:32):
Do you remember me yesterday asking Madame Flomm some questions
about whether she was confined to a wheelchair or whether
she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia when you
were staying with her in May and June of twenty ten.

Speaker 5 (40:45):
I heard that the daughter behind her say no.

Speaker 7 (40:48):
But coming to my question, please, mister Blum, did you
hear me ask those questions of Madame Flomm yesterday? And
did you observe when I asked Madam Flomm those questions
yesterday that she had a chuckle a little laugh, and
that her response to my question as to whether she
was confined to a wheelchair or diagnosed with Alzheimer's or
dementia in May or June of twenty ten, she said, smilingly, no,

(41:11):
did you see that? And hear that?

Speaker 5 (41:13):
I don't think she answer any question from herself, mister Blum.

Speaker 7 (41:19):
I want to suggest to you that when you gave
your evidence on oath on the eighteenth of February twenty
twenty two. When you said Andrea Flomm was in a
wheelchair with Alzheimer's disease and she couldn't put two words together?
Was a lie? Do you accept that?

Speaker 5 (41:32):
No, That's the way I saw it, and I.

Speaker 7 (41:35):
Want to suggest to you that you invented that lie
to undermine what Andre Flomm had written in a letter
that was shown to you in February of last year.
You accept that.

Speaker 5 (41:44):
No.

Speaker 2 (41:45):
Mister bloom Is then questioned about the allegations of Gulaane
Dubois dan Lois. He admits traveling to Europe between June
and September two thousand and six and writing a letter
to Madame Dubois Danlois in response to a personal lad
she had placed in a Belgian newspaper.

Speaker 7 (42:03):
You wrote her a letter and was the purpose of
writing her a letter to firstly meet with her and
perhaps form a friendship.

Speaker 5 (42:09):
No, no, meet her?

Speaker 7 (42:12):
Yes, but no she lived in Belgium, did she not?

Speaker 5 (42:17):
Yeah, she did.

Speaker 7 (42:18):
And in two thousand and six you lived in Australia,
did you not with your wife of many years, Diane,
and you had two children. Also living in Australia at
that time. Why did you answer the ad placed by
Madame Danois in two thousand and six in a Belgian newspaper.

Speaker 2 (42:33):
Rick Bloom responds in a fashion can't explain that in
the past, when questioned about them many times he posed
a single whilst married with children. Mister Bloom has also
failed to explain himself. Mister Castleton continues.

Speaker 7 (42:50):
This was not the first time you had answered an
advertisement that was placed by a single woman, was it correct?
I want you to think about this, please, mister Bloom.
What were your intentions of answering an advertisement placed by
a woman in circumstances where you were married with children.

Speaker 5 (43:06):
I don't exactly remember the turn of.

Speaker 7 (43:12):
Where your intentions, mister Blum to seduce Madame d'anois and
defraud her.

Speaker 5 (43:17):
No, no, sir.

Speaker 7 (43:19):
Did you ask her to collect catalogs in coin dealer's shops.

Speaker 5 (43:22):
She never did anything for me.

Speaker 7 (43:26):
You say she did nothing for you other than let
you stay at her house.

Speaker 5 (43:29):
That's right, and having you know research, especially about the
town and the detailed history of where I was born.

Speaker 2 (43:39):
He explains how he spent time at the library to
learn more about the history of the town where he
was born. Mister Counselton is not interested in this, and
he continues with his line of questioning, when.

Speaker 7 (43:51):
You first met her, you were lodging at a university accommodation.

Speaker 5 (43:54):
I was in Brussels, I was, I was, I had
a mon there and I spent most of my time
there and at the library because to the library, I
had the direct tramp from the union, whereas where she
was living as far away.

Speaker 7 (44:12):
Madame Dunois has given evidence on oath that you moved
into her place in Brussels.

Speaker 5 (44:17):
As a service. I stayed there for four or five days, and.

Speaker 7 (44:21):
She says you stayed there for some weeks. No, no,
and that you're in a romantic relationship.

Speaker 5 (44:27):
What that was in a romantic relationship? No, no, sir.

Speaker 7 (44:34):
And you shared a bed together, No, in her place
in Brussels in Belgium, and she says that she quickly
fell in love with you. Did you read that in
her statement to police?

Speaker 5 (44:43):
Yes, that statement is late.

Speaker 2 (44:45):
Mister counseledon fires off questions every single one, mister bloom rejects.

Speaker 7 (44:51):
Did you tell her you worked for a bank in Australia?
Never did you ask her to marry you in Bali
in Indonesia.

Speaker 5 (44:57):
No. No.

Speaker 7 (44:58):
Did you suggest to Madame d Wha that you should
marry in Bali but for her not to tell her children?

Speaker 5 (45:03):
This is lie after lie? Why do you want me
to see.

Speaker 7 (45:07):
On Madame Danois's account, mister Blum, it could be said
that you are lying. Do you accept that?

Speaker 5 (45:12):
I don't accept it.

Speaker 7 (45:14):
Did you say to her that after you marry in Bali,
you could come and live in Australia.

Speaker 2 (45:18):
No, And so it continues. He also denies suggesting that
he would open bank accounts for each of Madame dan
Lois's children in Australia.

Speaker 5 (45:27):
It just lies. What do you it's all elaborated. I
don't know.

Speaker 7 (45:32):
You say today on your oath that Julaine Danois is
telling lies?

Speaker 5 (45:37):
Hate to see it?

Speaker 2 (45:38):
Yes, mister Caunselton then brings up all of the other
women who have made allegations about mister Bloom.

Speaker 7 (45:44):
Just like you said about Janet Oldenburg, correct, she too
was lying.

Speaker 5 (45:48):
Janette Audanburg is laying.

Speaker 7 (45:50):
Yes, and just like you said about Jeanette Gafney Bowen,
correct that she also lied.

Speaker 5 (45:55):
Well, yes, and just like you.

Speaker 7 (45:58):
Said about Monique Cornelius, that she also lied.

Speaker 5 (46:01):
That's why she never signed her She never sign she
refused to sign the deposition she meet.

Speaker 7 (46:08):
And just like you said just now about Andre Flomm,
that she also has lied.

Speaker 2 (46:13):
Mister Bloom claims other people made Andre Flume make allegations.
He then blames this podcast for enticing so many women
to come forward.

Speaker 7 (46:23):
Do you say that Jeanette Gaffney Bowen when she goes
to police in nineteen ninety eight to complain about you,
was in response to a podcast?

Speaker 5 (46:31):
Do you I can't see and you're aware.

Speaker 7 (46:33):
I want to suggest to you that any podcast relating
to Marion Barter was not in existence, mister Bloom in
nineteen ninety eight, would you accept that possible?

Speaker 5 (46:43):
You know it? Just what?

Speaker 7 (46:45):
And I want to suggest to you or say mister Bloom,
that there was no podcast in relation to Marion Barter
in nineteen ninety nine or early two thousand, when Janet
Oldenburg went to police to complain about you. Do you
accept that?

Speaker 5 (46:58):
If you say so?

Speaker 7 (46:59):
And I want to suggest to you, when Madame Danois
went to the Belgian police to complain about you, there
was no podcast in existence concerning Marion Barter. Do you
accept that yeah, if you see it. And I want
to suggest to you, mister Blum, when Madame Flomm wrote
a letter complaining about you in July twenty ten, having
also lodged a complaint with Belgian police that year, there

(47:20):
was no podcast in relation to Marion Barter's existence.

Speaker 5 (47:24):
Do you accept that, Hay accept that year.

Speaker 7 (47:27):
I want to suggest to you, mister Blum, that is
in fact you who is lying about what took place
with the women I've just mentioned. Do you accept that?

Speaker 5 (47:36):
No, Sir.

Speaker 1 (47:41):
During a break on day two, I am approached by
one of the police detectives investigating the disappearance of Marion Barter.
They asked me if I'm willing to go with them
right now to make a statement. This is highly unusual
for a journalist to be asked to provide evidence to
the police during an inquest, and I quickly agree. They

(48:04):
want to know about the engagement announcement that Delaine has
shown me when she thought she and Frederick de Heeadavari
were going to get married in two thousand and six.
The photo I have of the engagement notice is now
part of the evidence.

Speaker 2 (48:20):
We have to wait to find out why the police
wanted this document so urgently. We have noticed that despite
mister Bloom's physical state, he appears to have no problem
understanding what is being asked of him. Very soon, several
questions and some new evidence will leave him and everyone

(48:41):
in the court searching for answers. In the next episode,
the inquest takes a shocking turn with not one.

Speaker 7 (48:50):
I want to suggest to you you were mister Blum
and that your denials are alie, but.

Speaker 2 (48:55):
Two apparently damning contradictions.

Speaker 7 (48:58):
I suggest that you do know more than you are
letting on about the whereabouts of Marion Barter.

Speaker 1 (49:26):
If you knew Marion or have any information about her
or her whereabouts, we'd love to hear from you. Our
website is sevennews dot com dot au, forward slash news
forward slash the Lady Vanishers, and you can also message
us here. You can also send us at anonymous tip
at www dot Lady Vanishers dot org. If you like

(49:52):
what you're hearing, don't forget to subscribe. Please rate and
review our series. It helps new listeners find us. Presenter
and executive producer Alison Sandy, investigative journalist Brian Seymour, writer
and producer Sally Eels, Sound design Mark Wright graphics, Jason Blamford,

(50:15):
translation and transcripts. A Stelle Sanchez voice actors or Willian Ritter, Veroni,
Durcell and the Brisbane Newsroom. The theme and much of
the music by Nicholas Gasparini at the Darkpiano dot com.
Thanks again to Alliance Francis. This is a Seven News production.
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