2 weeks Ago By Rebecca Peppiatt
A broke Andre Rebelo murdered his mother days after lodging $1 million worth of life insurance policies in her name in a desperate attempt to keep up the appearance of his ‘fake perfect life’, a court has been told. Mr Rebelo, 28, is accused of murdering Colleen Rebelo, 58, inside her Bicton home on May 20, 2020. WA Police allege Colleen Rebelo, left, was murdered by her son Andre Rebelo, pictured right with his former partner Gracie Piscopo, in 2020.
Piscopo is not charged. Credit: Instagram During the first day of his trial in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, state prosecutor Brett Tooker told the jury a “fit and healthy” Ms Rebelo was found dead in the shower of her home. “A coronial investigation was not able to determine the cause of death,” he said.
He said, of the three insurance policies Mr Rebelo lodged for his mother, he only pursued one worth $500,000, going to “extensive efforts” to claim it. “The insurance company took rigorous steps to establish the claim. To Andre Rebelo, it must have seemed like they were putting road blocks to claim.
Every time they put a roadblock down, he found a way around it by submitting fraudulent records or documents,” Tooker said. Mr Rebelo forged a copy of his mother’s will and testament listing himself as the executor, forged a medical letter from a psychologist stating his mother wasn’t suicidal and forged a cause of death certificate stating she died of a brain aneurism. The insurance company became suspicious and refused to pay out the claim before reporting Mr Rebelo to police.
Tooker claimed in 2020, Mr Rebelo and his then-girlfriend Grace Piscopo portrayed their life as glamorous and perfect, but that the truth was they were in dire financial trouble. He said Mr Rebelo struggled to keep up with his girlfriend, who was a successful model and influencer, and used other people’s money to bankroll his attempts to become a cryptocurrency day trader “He had lived his life on credit,” Tooker said. “On the date of Colleen Rebelo’s death, he had a personal and credit card debt of more than $40,000 .
.. he was being pursued by two debt collection agencies.
“The walls were closing in ...
if he wanted to be successful ...
then he had to kill his mother.” Ms Rebelo was described as a devoted and loving mother of four children. Mr Rebelo admits forging documents for the life insurance claim, but denies murdering his mother.
The trial continues. More to come. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later.
License this article Courts Crime Bicton Instagram Rebecca Peppiatt – is a journalist with WAtoday, specialising in crime and courts. Connect via email . Most Viewed in National Loading.
