‘Concerns’ raised over trust withdrawals in ongoing legal battle
Virginia Giuffre’s former lawyer and her caretaker are locked in a fight with her sons over her multimillion-dollar estate, concerned that money is being withdrawn from a family trust controlled by her estranged husband, Robert Giuffre.
The matter was aired during a case management conference held before registrar Danielle Davies in the Supreme Court of Western Australia on Monday, where administrative issues were discussed ahead of a mediation expected later this year or next year.
Giuffre, a child sex trafficking victim, died aged 41 at her farm in Neergabby, about an hour’s drive north of Perth, in April last year. His estate is believed to include significant compensation payments from Briton Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
At the time of his death, Giuffre was separated from her husband and was involved in divorce proceedings. The couple shares three children.
Last year, his adult sons Christian, 20, and Noah, 18, filed to be appointed administrators of the estate. They claim their mother died without a valid will and that they lacked “testamentary capacity” when an unofficial will was created, according to court records.
Giuffre’s attorney, Karrie Louden, and caretaker Cheryl Myers filed a countersuit alleging that Giuffre stated in an “informal will” that she should not benefit from her estranged husband’s inheritance.
Robert Giuffre and the couple’s daughter have also since attended the hearings, and public trustees have been appointed to represent the teenager.
Perth lawyer Ian Torrington Blatchford remains the interim administrator currently running the property.
At Monday’s hearing, Louden and Myers’ attorney, McLane Edinger, told the court that Robert and Virginia Giuffre had “concerns about the use of funds” from the Witty River Family Trust, in which they each own 50 shares.
McLane told the court he had spoken to Blatchford “extensively” and asked for more time for him to give evidence about the condition of the estate.
“I don’t speak for him… a lot of things have happened… complex issues have arisen,” McLane told the court.
“There are problems in the Family Court… and problems with the use of funds from the family trust.”
George St Chambers barrister Jon Patty, who represents Christian and Noah Giuffre via audio link from Queensland, told the court Blatchford had already received an extension and opposed the decision.
But registrar Davies upheld the decision, telling the court it was a “very short extension” and that it was “sensible” to make the decision.
Patty told the court her clients had sought access to a number of medical and financial documents from third parties, including a “small medical centre” and an accounting firm.
Davies told claimants to submit an amended application within 14 days.
Since their last court appearance, Louden and Myers have changed legal representation from Craig Hollett to Edinger, part of the national firm Hall and Wilcox.
He previously managed Heath Ledger’s estate for eight years.
The next hearing will be set when registrar Davies is available to the parties.
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Carla Hildebrandt is a journalist at WAtoday. She previously worked as a courts reporter for the ABC’s Four Corners and for The Daily Telegraph in Sydney. For secure communication: carlahildebrandt@proton.me.Connect via email.
