Murder accused fined $140,000

Farmer charged with murder: Police arrive at the scene of the crime outside Moree. Photo: Mooree Champion

The 79-year-old farmer accused of murdering environmental compliance officer Glen Turner has been fined $140,000 for illegal land clearing, an offence his alleged victim had investigated.

Ian Robert Turnbull has been charged with murdering Mr Turner on the evening of July 29 by ambushing him on a country road and shooting him multiple times with a rifle.

He is also accused ofholding Robert Strange, Mr Turner's fellow compliance officer at the Office of Environment and Heritage, andtaking him with the intention of committing a serious indictable offence.

Killed: Environmental compliance officer Glen Turner. Photo: Supplied

In the Land and Environment Court on Friday Mr Turnbull was fined $140,000 for bulldozing more than 3000 trees on properties owned by his son Grant and grandson Cory at Croppa Creek, near Moree, in northern NSW.

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He was also ordered to pay the OEH's legal and investigation costs, estimated to be about $172,000.

The clearing took place between November 1, 2011, and January 18, 2012. While Mr Turnbull did not own the two properties, the judgment reveals he had a financial interest in his grandson's property as he mortgaged his own farm, Yambin, some 15 kilometres away, as security against Cory's bank loan. Further, some of the profits from cropping intended to take place on the farms could flow to him.

The judgment shows Mr Turner discovered the illegal land clearing on December 12, 2011. In January and February 2012 Mr Turner conducted inspections of the property, including aerial flyovers.

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Murder accused fined $140,000