Seven years after the murder of Campbell Town resident Shane Barker, forensic investigators have returned to the scene of the crime.
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Officers from the Serious Organised Crime Division’s cold case team and forensic services searched the 36-year-old’s former home where he was shot dead in 2009.
As a result of a review into the case, which began in November, Detective Mark Lopes said police believed Mr Barker was shot at least four times in his driveway before being found dead in his home.
Extending the search to a neighbouring property on Tuesday, Detective Lopes said investigators were looking for bullet casings and “possible areas in which a shooter may have secreted himself prior to shooting the victim”.
“The evidence reviewed by cold case investigators indicates that Mr (Shane) Barker was ambushed whilst in the process of securing his vehicle in the garage at his home on that evening,” he said.
“The evidence also supports that the murderer knew Mr (Shane) Barker's movements and laid in wait for him to arrive home before commencing his cowardly crime.
“At this stage we’re looking for one person who may have fired the firearm.”
Detective Lopes said finding bullet casings at the scene would support “other evidence” in the case.
Shane’s brother, Paul Barker, said he was grateful his younger brother “had not been forgotten”.
“As a family, we’re very relieved this review is happening,” he said.
Mr Barker was at work in Launceston when he received the call about Shane’s murder from his grandfather on August 2, 2009.
“The emotion is still there, seven years has been a long time to wait,” Mr Barker said.
“It’s hard enough losing a brother, and then not knowing on top of that.
“You’re always wondering why and thinking about how you could have walked past the person who did this.”
Mr Barker urged anyone with information to come forward.
“It would mean everything for my family to find out,” he said.
“To know who and why.
“I can’t say for sure that we will be able to move on but I think it will take a huge weight off our shoulders.”
Last week, Tasmania Police announced it had increased the reward for information relating to the murder from $50,000 to $250,000, the highest in Tasmania’s history.
“At this stage, there’s been at least 18 phone calls to Crime Stoppers, and there’s been inquiries directly to the Serious Organised Crime Division investigators,” Detective Lopes said.
“We’re evaluating all that information at the moment and we will be following that up as well.”
Detective Lopes said the investigation into the case was expected to continue over the next few months.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.