A 28-year-old man accused of murdering his mother has admitted he forged her will – but the jury in his WA Supreme Court trial has been told not to assume guilt from his admission.
Andre Rebelo was initially charged with murder and five fraud offences, and his trial on those charges was due to begin today.
But Justice Bruno Fiannaca told the jury on the first day of the trial that Mr Rebelo had pleaded guilty to four fraud-related charges.
These included forging his mother’s will and a coroner’s court record of investigation into her death, as well as two medical information requests.
He said the state would allege the fraud charges were relevant to the murder charge.
However, he warned the jury they could not infer that Mr Rebelo was guilty of murder just because he had admitted to the other offences.
Murder charge came two years after death
Colleen Rebelo’s body was found at her Bicton home in May, 2020, but it wasn’t until two years later that her son was charged with her murder.
The fraud offences occurred in the months following Colleen Rebelo’s death.
Colleen Rebello was found dead at her home in the affluent riverside suburb of Bicton. (Supplied: LinkedIn)
The court was told the trial is likely to run for seven weeks, and family members of Mr Rebelo are among those expected to give evidence.
A jury of 16 was empanelled, and a ballot will be drawn at the end of the trial for 12 jurors to decide on a verdict.
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