A CROPPA Creek man accused of gunning down and killing an environmental compliance officer will take his bid for release to one of the state's highest courts.
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Ian Robert Turnbull remains behind bars charged with the murder of 51-year-old Office of Environment and Heritage employee Glen Turner, but he's lodged a fresh bid for bail.
Despite being refused last month by Moree magistrate Darryl Pearce, who said "no amount of money or conditions could mitigate the unacceptable risk" Turnbull posed, lawyers for the accused are set to try again.
An application for bail has been lodged with the Supreme Court to have the 79-year-old farmer released on conditional liberty while his case progresses through the courts.
Turnbull is being held in maximum security at a NSW correctional centre, where he has remained since he was arrested shortly after the alleged killing on July 29.
His case was mentioned at Moree Local Court on Monday he was adjourned until November 17 after his Supreme Court bail hearing is heard in October in Sydney.
But changes to the state's Bail Act, passed through Parliament House on Thursday, could threaten the outcome of the bail application.
Attorney-General Brad Hazzard said the changes would make it harder for those accused of serious offences to be released.
"The NSW Government has acted swiftly to ensure those who pose an unacceptable risk to the community are refused bail," Mr Hazzard said.
"We've moved to change the Bail Act so that the views of victim's families, regarding the danger presented by the accused, can be considered in bail applications for serious offences, including those which have a serious impact on the victim or the community."
The new measures will mean Turnbull will have to "show cause" why he should not be detained, because one of his charges carries a life sentence and allegedly involves the use of a firearm.
The new law comes after a string of controversial bail decisions which saw alleged wife-killer Steve Fesus granted Supreme Court bail in June, despite being charged with murder.
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 allegedly witnessed the killing.
Prosecutors allege Turnbull was just 10 to 15m away when without warning he ambushed the environmental officer, telling Mr Turner on three occasions "he was going to be leaving in a body bag," before allegedly firing five shots.
Turnbull allegedly shot Mr Turner in the chin, the shoulder, the shirt and the back - the shot police claim was fatal, killing the Tamworth-based father-of-two. - Breanna Chillingworth