Attempts to cast the slain environmental officer Glen Turner as a pariah who was persecuting an honest farmer have appalled a former colleague, who fears the alleged killer will be romanticised as “some kind of Ned Kelly” of land clearers.

“I want to honour Glen by setting the record straight,” said Steve Beaman, who worked alongside Mr Turner as a compliance officer in the state’s north-west for the state Office of Environment and Heritage.

Burning off on Grant Turnbull's property 'Colorado' near Moree last week. Credit:Peter Rae

Mr Beaman, who took redundancy last year, accompanied Mr Turner in August 2012 when he visited Ian Turnbull, the 79-year-old farmer who is now accused of murdering Mr Turner in a hail of five gunshots, three of which hit the man.

Mr Turnbull allegedly ambushed Mr Turner and fellow officer Robert Strange last week on a dirt road at Croppa Creek, north of Moree.