Virginia Giuffre’s former lawyer and her carer, who are locked in a battle with her sons over her multimillion-dollar estate, are concerned about money being withdrawn from a family trust controlled by her estranged husband, Robert Giuffre.
The issue was aired during a case management conference before registrar Danielle Davies in the Supreme Court of Western Australia on Monday, where administrative matters were discussed before an expected mediation later this year or next year.
Child sex-trafficking survivor Giuffre died aged 41 in April last year at her farm in Neergabby, about an hour’s drive north of Perth. Her estate is believed to include substantial compensation payments received from Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Giuffre had separated from her husband and was involved in divorce proceedings at the time of her death. The couple share three children.
Last year, her adult sons, Christian, 20, and Noah, 18, brought proceedings seeking to be appointed administrators of the estate. They argue their mother died without a valid will and lacked “testamentary capacity” when an informal will was created, according to court filings.
Giuffre’s lawyer Karrie Louden and carer Cheryl Myers filed a counterclaim alleging Giuffre expressed in an “informal will” that her estranged husband should not benefit from her estate.
Robert Giuffre and the couple’s daughter have since been joined to the proceedings, with the public trustee appointed to represent the teenager.
Perth lawyer Ian Torrington Blatchford remains the interim administrator currently managing the estate.
During Monday’s hearing, Louden and Myers’ lawyer McLane Edinger told the court he had “concerns relating to the use of funds” from the Witty River Family Trust, in which Robert and Virginia Giuffre held 50 shares each.
McLane told the court he had been speaking with Blatchford “extensively” and asked for an extension for him to give evidence on the state of affairs of the estate.
“I do not speak for him … there is quite a bit that has occurred … complex issues have arisen,” McLane told the court.
“There are issues in the Family Court … and issues with the use of funds from the family trust.”
George St Chambers barrister Jon Patty, representing Christian and Noah Giuffre, who appeared via audio link from Queensland, told the court Blatchford had already received extensions and opposed the order.
But registrar Davies approved the order, telling the court it was a “very short extension” and it “made sense” to grant it.
Patty told the court his clients were seeking to access a range of medical and financial documents from third parties, including a “small medical centre” and an accounting firm.
Davies told the plaintiffs to file a further amended application within 14 days.
Since the last court appearance, Louden and Myers have changed legal representation from Craig Hollett to Edinger, who is part of national firm Hall and Wilcox.
He previously managed Heath Ledger’s estate for eight years.
The next hearing would be set once registrar Davies was provided availability from the parties.
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Carla Hildebrandt is a journalist with WAtoday. She previously worked on ABC’s Four Corners and as a court reporter at The Daily Telegraph in Sydney. For secure contact: carlahildebrandt@proton.me.Connect via email.From our partners
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