Furious daughter slams funeral director for leaving her late mother's dead body lying in a van overnight – as undertaker applies for an AVO after a 'wild blow-up between the pair'

  • Body of a grandmother was allegedly left in a van overnight by funeral directors
  • Judith Newman's family allege funeral director didn't take her straight to morgue
  • Instead she was allegedly left in car on industrial site by Terry and Shirley Goater
  • One daughter, Diane, confronted the married couple in a massive blow-up

By Zoe Zaczek For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 09:23 EDT, 22 October 2018 | Updated: 10:39 EDT, 22 October 2018

A furious daughter has slammed a funeral director for leaving her mother's body in a panel van overnight. 

Debbie Newman accused Terry and Shirley Goater of keeping her mother's corpse in in the vehicle, which was parked on an industrial site, in Moree, NSW.

Debbie was so incensed that she told A Current Affair she wanted to 'smash' Shirley Goater.

In one dramatic scene Debbie has to be restrained by the programme's bosses as she launched herself at Shirley's car.

The Goaters, who were paid $6,500 to conduct Judith Newman's funeral, have now applied for an Apprehensive Violence Order (AVO).

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Great-grandmother Judith Newman (pictured), from Moree in New South Wales' north, had pre-paid funeral directors and married couple Terry and Shirley Goater $6,500 to conduct her service before her death in July

Great-grandmother Judith Newman (pictured), from Moree in New South Wales' north, had pre-paid funeral directors and married couple Terry and Shirley Goater $6,500 to conduct her service before her death in July

In footage captured by A Current Affair, Mrs Newman's daughter, Dianne, attended the Goaters' rented industrial site where a blow-up occurred 

In footage captured by A Current Affair, Mrs Newman's daughter, Dianne, attended the Goaters' rented industrial site where a blow-up occurred 

The Newman family were told Judith's body would be take straight from the nursing home to morgue, but according to the Goaters, there was nobody at the morgue.

The Goaters allegedly left the refrigerated van running before turning it off the following morning and attending the annual Bingara orange festival, after which, Mrs Goater shared videos on her Facebook page.   

In footage captured by A Current Affair, Mrs Newman's daughter, Dianne, attended the Goaters' rented industrial site.

In a moment of rage she approached Mrs Goater in her car and demanded to see her mother's final mode of transport. 

Mr Goater has since applied for an AVO against Dianne (pictured) following the blow-up. 'I just wanna smash her,' Dianne told A Current Affair

Mr Goater has since applied for an AVO against Dianne (pictured) following the blow-up. 'I just wanna smash her,' Dianne told A Current Affair

Ms Newman's other daughter, Kay, said she couldn't believe someone would leave her mother's corpse in a car overnight.

'I can't explain the hurt in here that somebody would do that to another human being,' Kay said.

'It's all I can think of, of a night time, is mum in the back of that van in a body bag.' 

Mr Goater maintained he and his wife did nothing wrong by claiming Ms Newman's body was 'in transit' (pictured: Shirley Goater)

Mr Goater maintained he and his wife did nothing wrong by claiming Ms Newman's body was 'in transit' (pictured: Shirley Goater)

Mr Goater maintained he and his wife did nothing wrong by claiming Ms Newman's body was 'in transit'.

The couple said they never left the body unrefrigriated for more than eight hours, in accordance with the New South Wales Health Department. 

The matter of the AVO will be heard in Moree local court next Monday.

Mr and Mrs Goater told Daily Mail Australia: 'This all came about after we picked Mrs Newman up, we were told by Thorleys (funeral services) who were to store the body that there was no staff at Inverell to store to accept the body at the time, as they live in Glenn Innes, but there would be someone at the funeral home the next day, so we had no other place to take Mrs Newman.

'As far as we are concerned, she was quite safe and comfortable as you can leave a body out of refrigeration for up to eight hours.'

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Furious daughter slams funeral director for leaving her mother’s dead body lying in a van overnight

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