Putting a 10-week trial to a close, Cedric Harper Jordan, 71, and Noelene June Jordan, 68, of Swansea, have been found guilty of the cold-blooded murder of their ex-son-in-law, Shane Geoffrey Barker.
The Supreme Court jury in Launceston reached a unanimous verdict after more days of deliberation, bringing an end to a case that has gripped the state.
The couple now faces the prospect of spending the rest of their lives behind bars.
The Jordans showed no emotion as the verdict was delivered, while gasps filled the courtroom as members of the Barker family, who had attended every session of the trial, heard the outcome.
Rachel Jordan, the couple’s daughter, and Mr. Barker’s ex-wife were also present but remained calm and composed.
Throughout the trial, the jury heard disturbing details of the couple’s deep-seated hatred towards Mr. Barker and their desire to gain complete control over their granddaughter, Sophie Barker.
The events leading up to the murder unfolded on a fateful evening in August 2009.
At approximately 6:40 pm, Mr. Jordan, armed with a .22 pump-action rifle, waited outside Mr. Barker’s home.
He fired four subsonic bullets into Mr. Barker’s back, critically wounding him.
Despite managing to reach safety inside his home, Mr. Barker succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
Critical evidence presented during the trial included three cartridge cases left at the crime scene, while a fourth one was discovered later and became pivotal in linking the Jordans to the murder.
Although the murder weapon was never recovered, Noelene Jordan was found guilty of murder due to her active involvement in what the prosecution characterized as a pre-planned execution.
The couple’s conduct following the murder also played a vital role in their conviction.
They initially provided false information to the police about their whereabouts on the night of the crime, swearing in statutory declarations that they were in Swansea throughout the evening.
However, their alibi quickly crumbled when Telstra records showed their presence on the Midland Highway during the estimated time of the murder.
Text messages exchanged between Noelene Jordan and their daughter at 7:33 pm placed them in Launceston just moments after the fatal shooting.
Witness testimonies further solidified the prosecution’s case. Justin Titley, Rachel Jordan’s ex-partner, revealed that Mr. Jordan had expressed his intentions to harm Mr. Barker before the murder took place.
Mr. Titley recounted an incident where Mr. Jordan test-fired a .22 rifle at a rural property, suggesting it would be an ideal weapon due to its lack of registration.
