Perth Court Hears $1.15 Million Financial Motive in Mother’s Alleged Murder

Prosecutors in Perth have alleged that Andre Rebelo stood to gain $1.15 million from the murder of his mother, Colleen Rebelo, according to statements made during an ongoing Supreme Court trial. The 28-year-old defendant, who has admitted to multiple fraud charges, denies the murder allegations leveled against him.

The trial, which commenced on Wednesday, is anticipated to last for approximately seven weeks. Initial findings in 2020 indicated that Colleen Rebelo, aged 58, was discovered deceased in her shower in Bicton, a suburb of Perth, on May 25, that year. Her death was initially viewed as unexpected but not suspicious.

Two years later, in 2022, Andre Rebelo faced charges of murder. Evidence presented in court suggests that at the time of his mother’s death, Rebelo was embroiled in significant personal debt of around $40,000, reportedly accrued in maintaining a lavish lifestyle portrayed on social media platforms. At the time, he was dating Gracie Piscopo, a model and social media influencer, and the couple prominently shared their lives online.

Prosecutor Brett Tooker stated in court that a week prior to Colleen’s death, Mr. Rebelo procured three life insurance policies under her name, positioning himself as the sole beneficiary. The prosecution highlighted activity where Mr. Rebelo purportedly sought out these insurance payouts merely three days after his mother’s body was discovered.

The court heard allegations that Rebelo, who was 24 at the time of the alleged incident, faked various documents, including amendments to his mother’s will. Mr. Tooker presented that the fraud was significant enough to culminate in an investigation instigated by a complaint from an insurance company, drawing the attention of Western Australian Police to Rebelo as a suspect.

The prosecutor elaborated that evidence, including mobile phone data, could demonstrate Mr. Rebelo’s presence near his mother’s residence for up to 70 minutes before the discovery of her body. Additionally, it was reported that Rebelo attempted to disguise the scene to appear natural, something evident from the odd arrangement of household items such as a shower mat.

Mr. Tooker acknowledged the ambiguity surrounding the exact cause of Colleen Rebelo’s death but reminded the jury that their task was to assess the possibility that Andre Rebelo was responsible for his mother’s death, based on circumstantial evidence.

Defense Counsel Anthony Elliot underscored the circumstantial nature of the evidence, cautioning the jury against concluding guilt solely from his client’s pursuit of life insurance claims. He characterized his client’s debt as a potential investment in their social media presence.

The trial is set to include testimony from Fabian Rebelo, Andre’s youngest brother, who discovered their mother’s body. The proceedings are scheduled to continue with further witness testimonies and analysis of the gathered evidence.