A MAN accused of murdering a Tamworth environmental compliance officer will remain behind bars until at least next month.
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Ian Robert Turnbull did not appear in Moree Local Court yesterday but remains bail refused, under close guard in a maximum-security correctional centre.
During the brief mention yesterday morning, the crown applied for an eight-week adjournment as it waits to examine specialist forensic evidence from the scene of the alleged murder. The adjournment was granted by magistrate Michael O’Brien.
The court was told Turnbull was not making a release application, pending the outcome of the Supreme Court bail hearing, to be heard in Sydney next week.
Last week, The Leader revealed the 79-year-old farmer had lodged a fresh bid for release in the NSW Supreme Court, despite being labelled an “unacceptable risk” by a Moree court in August.
The Croppa Creek farmer is accused of gunning down and killing 51-year-old Office of Environment and Heritage employee Glen Turner, who was inspecting a road reserve north of Moree on July 29.
The alleged murder revolves around the controversial issue of illegal land clearing and shocked both the Croppa Creek and Tamworth communities, which are still mourning the loss of the well-liked compliance officer.
Turnbull is charged with murder as well as one count of common assault and detaining a person with intent to commit a serious indictable offence against Mr Turner’s colleague, Robert Strange, who is believed to have witnessed the alleged killing.
Prosecutors allege Turnbull was just 10m to 15m away when, without warning, he ambushed Mr Turner, telling him on three occasions he was “going to be leaving in a body bag” before firing five shots. Turnbull allegedly shot Mr Turner in the chin, shoulder, upper body and back – the shot police claim killed the Tamworth-based father-of-two.
Last Friday in the Land and Environment Court in Sydney, Justice Terry Sheahan fined Turnbull $140,000, plus more than $170,000 in legal costs, after he was convicted of illegal land clearing on two properties, owned by members of his family, between 2011 and 2012.
Turnbull remains before the Land and Environment Court on further allegations of illegal clearing, with the case to be heard later this year.