AN ELDERLY farmer will stand trial accused of the shooting murder of a Tamworth environmental compliance officer in July, last year.
Ian Robert Turnbull did not enter any pleas during a brief committal hearing in Moree Local Court yesterday morning, before DPP prosecutor Mark Dight asked for all matters to be moved to the Supreme Court in Sydney.
Turnbull, 81, is charged with murdering 51-year-old Office of Environment and Heritage employee Glen Turner on July 29, 2014.
Mr Turner was on a routine inspection in Croppa Creek when he was allegedly shot several times, and died at the Talga Lane scene.
Turnbull is also charged with detaining a person with intent to commit a serious indictable offence and common assault of Mr Turner’s colleague, Robert Strange, who allegedly witnessed the fatal shooting.
Turnbull appeared via video link yesterday morning from Long Bay Correctional Centre in Sydney where he is being held.
Magistrate Michael O’Brien warned Turnbull during the committal for trial that anything he said would be recorded and could be used at his trial.
“Do you want to answer to your charge?” Mr O’Brien asked.
“No,” Turnbull replied.
Turnbull also declined to make a statement or call a witness during the brief proceedings.
“A reasonable jury would convict,” Mr O’Brien said, if they were properly instructed, and committed Turnbull for trial.
“Bail is refused.”
The case has been adjourned for mention in November in the supreme court.
Last month, Turnbull’s defence barrister tried unsuccessfully to have the key witness to the alleged murder, Mr Strange, called to give evidence in court about the incident.
But Mr O’Brien ruled against the application and said Mr Strange had already given police six witness statements and walked detectives through what happened at Croppa Creek on the day of the alleged murder.
