This is the case of Marion Barter, a mother, teacher, friend missing for twenty six years.
You know something that she was going to vanish.
That's for sure.
The bizarre circumstances surrounding her disappearance, I'm not.
Sure if it was intentional.
There's something more foul afoot.
If you could imagine a teacher coming straight from say little house on the prairie to the eighties, that was Marian Barter.
What I say, whether you find Marian Barter dead or alive, I honestly believe somebody has that key piece of information.
And the relentless quest of a daughter to find her mum.
Something had happened, Something has happened to make her leave.
I am one hundred percent sure, one hundred percent sure that somebody knows something. The Lady Vanishes, Episode forty eight. I'm Alison Sandy.
And I'm Brian Seymour.
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. It was a shock at first and they had to regroup.
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 names of those who would be called to give evidence.
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 and you sort of feeding out UK correspondent our proxy there?
It just it really means what you received.
So I was so cute.
It's come a long way since four years ago. So many developments been.
Avertas to support funding throughout this journey.
Her journey has been a very long journey. Feel privileged to come in on that journey at a later.
Stage, but quite a crucial studies. The Beau support her and offer some help.
I wish it could be more. I wish we could fly as that leading the haystack.
Maybe one day we will.
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 our accommodation, we check in with our camera crew, who are busy collecting pictures around.
We're going to go from.
Here to look out, Okay, look out for probably back down the streets.
Yeah, do some stuff today and then we'll finish off with Drove stuftly Cans.
Sunset that's whatever.
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 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 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.
Who he is.
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, Matthew White sc.
Was he trying to avoid media's scrutiny by not turning.
Up of course not, of course not.
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 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.
I'm tuning into the live stream from Sydney Council assisting the coroner. Adam casselten opens the proceedings.
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 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.
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 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. 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, 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.
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.
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. 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.
But it is so important for me to bear witness.
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.
I had asked for a handwritten letter, which he sent and it was a very nice letter, with no spelling errors, and very interesting.
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.
Bed, but he had said to me beforehand that it was abnormally frigid.
She says.
He told her he lived in Australia where he was a bank manager, and was in Belgium to look for old coins as.
He was a collector.
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.
I was fond of him and I wanted to live with him in Australia.
But Frederic Deheadevry did not want Julaine Dubois dan Nois to tell her children of their plans to marry.
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.
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
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 house up for sale.
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 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.
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 the sale of her house.
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 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 frightened for him.
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.
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.
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.
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 was hinting at some form of revenge.
And the only reason he gave for ending the relationship.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
In the end, what I was really worried about was his interest in poison, because on two occasions I was afraid of him.
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.
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.
The coroner replies, on behalf of Sally Leyden, thank you.
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.
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 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, 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 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 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 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 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. 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.
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 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 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 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 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 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
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 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.
While mister d Hadaveri was staying with you in twenty ten. Were you confined to a wheelchair?
No?
Not that all well, Frederic Ahadaveri stayed with you did you need to use a wheelchair from time to time?
No, no, never.
At that time that he stayed with you, had you been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia?
Madame Flume chuckles at the suggestion.
No, no, never.
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. What became of your husband's coin collection?
I don't have it anymore. It was him who took it.
How do you know that it was Frederic Aheevari that took it.
He was viewing the coins and I went out for an errant, and when I came everything was gone.
When you say everything was gone, do you mean everything?
No?
The coin collection.
Did Frederick ever say that he would send you money for the value of your coin collection?
He didn't see anything. He just left with it, that's all.
Did he leave a note or a message for you while you were out.
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.
Did you ever see the coin collection or part of the coin collection again?
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.
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, 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.
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.
Just so you know, we've removed the name of Charlotte's husband to protect her identity.
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. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
A few weeks.
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 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 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, 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
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 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, 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 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. 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 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.
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 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.
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 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 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.
The statement is dated April tenth, twenty twelve, and was taken at four point fifteen pm.
I have nothing else to add.
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 new day dawns, he is about to appear for a third time to answer questions relating to the disappearance of Marion Barter.
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, 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. 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 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.
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.
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.
And you knew her, did you not? In twenty ten?
Yeah?
Did you stay with her in twenty ten in Belgium?
Yeah?
And did you stay with her in Belgium throughout the month of May and June in twenty ten?
Her fortnight a fortnight?
Could it be that it was closer to three weeks as opposed to two weeks?
I don't remember.
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 Rick Bloom learned about through Madame Flume's now deceased son in law, Pierre.
Do you understand that Madame Flomm alleges against you that you stole from her a valuable coin collection that have belonged to her husband.
No, because the collection twas given to me by Pierre.
If it was given to you by Pierre, why did you send some of the collection back to Pierre? In June of twenty ten.
I send the whole collection that he gave me. It was about two thousand.
Madame Flomm says that you stole the coins, and that the coins you stole were valued in the order of perhaps fifteen thousand euros.
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.
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 evidence last.
Year, mister Bloom tries to explain himself.
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.
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.
I heard that the daughter behind her say no.
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, did you see that? And hear that?
I don't think she answer any question from herself, mister Blum.
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?
No, That's the way I saw it, and I.
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.
No.
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.
You wrote her a letter and was the purpose of writing her a letter to firstly meet with her and perhaps form a friendship.
No, no, meet her?
Yes, but no she lived in Belgium, did she not?
Yeah, she did.
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.
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.
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.
I don't exactly remember the turn of.
Where your intentions, mister Blum to seduce Madame d'anois and defraud her.
No, no, sir.
Did you ask her to collect catalogs in coin dealer's shops.
She never did anything for me.
You say she did nothing for you other than let you stay at her house.
That's right, and having you know research, especially about the town and the detailed history of where I was born.
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.
You first met her, you were lodging at a university accommodation.
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.
Madame Dunois has given evidence on oath that you moved into her place in Brussels.
As a service. I stayed there for four or five days, and.
She says you stayed there for some weeks. No, no, and that you're in a romantic relationship.
What that was in a romantic relationship? No, no, sir.
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?
Yes, that statement is late.
Mister counseledon fires off questions every single one, mister bloom rejects.
Did you tell her you worked for a bank in Australia? Never did you ask her to marry you in Bali in Indonesia.
No. No.
Did you suggest to Madame d Wha that you should marry in Bali but for her not to tell her children?
This is lie after lie? Why do you want me to see.
On Madame Danois's account, mister Blum, it could be said that you are lying. Do you accept that?
I don't accept it.
Did you say to her that after you marry in Bali, you could come and live in Australia.
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.
It just lies. What do you it's all elaborated. I don't know.
You say today on your oath that Julaine Danois is telling lies?
Hate to see it?
Yes, mister Caunselton then brings up all of the other women who have made allegations about mister Bloom.
Just like you said about Janet Oldenburg, correct, she too was lying.
Janette Audanburg is laying.
Yes, and just like you said about Jeanette Gafney Bowen, correct that she also lied.
Well, yes, and just like you.
Said about Monique Cornelius, that she also lied.
That's why she never signed her She never sign she refused to sign the deposition she meet.
And just like you said just now about Andre Flomm, that she also has lied.
Mister Bloom claims other people made Andre Flume make allegations. He then blames this podcast for enticing so many women to come forward.
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?
Do you I can't see and you're aware.
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?
You know it? Just what?
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?
If you say so?
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 was no podcast in relation to Marion Barter's existence.
Do you accept that, Hay accept that year.
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?
No, Sir.
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 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.
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 in the court searching for answers. In the next episode, the inquest takes a shocking turn with not one.
I want to suggest to you you were mister Blum and that your denials are alie, but.
Two apparently damning contradictions.
I suggest that you do know more than you are letting on about the whereabouts of Marion Barter.
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 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, 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.