SLAIN environment officer Glen Turner did not have "very strong views" about his killer Ian Turnbull or his farmer sons and grandson despite their history of illegal land clearing, a colleague says.
On Friday Robert Strange told the NSW Supreme Court he and Mr Turner had stopped outside a property in Croppa Creek, near Moree, to take photographic evidence of stacks of burning timber, on the afternoon of July 29, 2014.
The two Office of Environment and Heritage compliance and regulation officers had made good time travelling from their office in Tamworth and decided to drive past the properties in Croppa Creek so Mr Strange could familiarise himself with the area before the inspections scheduled for the next day.
Mr Turnbull's barrister Todd Alexis SC asked Mr Strange if Mr Turner told him about the issues between the department and the Turnbull family over land clearing, which had been going on since 2011.
Mr Strange said Mr Turnbull didn't mention a specific "run-in" with Mr Turnbull's son Roger but: "I was aware that for some period of time the Turnbull family was being investigated."
He said the name Turnbull was not even raised during the trip until they arrived in Croppa Creek and saw at least 10 burning stacks of vegetation.
He said even then, it was he who mentioned that the properties were owned by the Turnbull family, not Mr Turner.
Mr Alexis asked if Mr Turner "held a very strong view" about the Turnbull family given the ongoing court proceedings and investigations over illegal clearing of native vegetation.
"No stronger view than any other matter that Glen investigated," Mr Strange said.
He added Mr Turner did not express a strong dislike about Mr Turnbull, his sons Roger and Grant and grandson Cory, and was always a "professional officer".
Mr Turnbull, 81, shot Mr Turner at least three times on Talga Lane during following an ambush that lasted about 40 minutes.
Mr Strange witnessed the incident and has previously given evidence about his failed attempts to diffuse the situation and get medical help for Mr Turner.
Mr Turnbull has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of substantial impairment due to mental illness. The Crown has not accepted the plea.
The Crown Prosecutor Pat Barrett has told the court Mr Turnbull was motivated by a "personal hatred of Mr Turner" and the belief he and his family were being persecuted by government authorities over land clearing.
Mr Alexis has asked the jury to consider whether Mr Turner's investigations and prosecutions "wore him down and caused him to ultimately lose self-control and snap".
The trial continues.
- With the Sydney Morning Herald
