Marion Barter inquest findings: coroner criticises NSW police, says former lover ‘does indeed know more'
Coroner finds Ric Blum lied and deceived inquest, but does not recommend charges against him
www.theguardian.comHere’s a concise update based on the latest widely reported developments.
- The NSW coroner’s inquest into Marion Barter’s disappearance concluded in February 2024, ruling that Barter is likely deceased but stopping short of identifying the death’s location, cause, or manner. The coroner criticized initial NSW Police handling and suggested ongoing scrutiny by the Unsolved Homicide Team.[3][4]
- A key finding was that Marion Barter was exploited by her former partner, Ric Blum, who investigators indicated appears to know more than he has disclosed, though no charges were recommended at that time.[4][3]
- In the wake of the inquest, coverage and ongoing discussion continued, including reports that the case should remain actively investigated within the state crime command’s unsolved homicide framework for continued review. Related reporting and follow-ups referenced the broader media investigations sparked by The Lady Vanishes podcast and subsequent journalism highlighting potential fraud connections to Barter’s case.[2][7][4]
If you’d like, I can pull the latest local updates or provide direct links to the primary sources for these findings. Would you prefer a brief timeline of key events or a summary of what’s publicly known about next steps for ongoing investigations?
Cited sources:
- NSW coroner findings and criticisms of initial police handling.[3][4]
- Details on exploitation by Ric Blum and lack of charges recommended.[4][3]
- Ongoing investigative recommendations and media context.[2][4]