A former cryptocurrency trader accused of murdering his mother has pleaded guilty to fraud in the WA Supreme Court.
Andre Zachary Rebelo is on trial for the murder of his mother Colleen Rebelo, 58.
Ms Rebelo’s body was found by police at her home in Bicton, south-west Perth, in May 2020.
Her son was charged with murder and forging a number of documents in an attempt to commit fraud.
Rebelo pleaded guilty to the fraud charges but has maintained his innocence regarding the alleged murder of his mother.
A jury will now be asked to determine whether Rebelo killed his mother in a trial expected to last about seven weeks.
Judge Bruno Fiannaca said that despite Rebelo’s plea, the forgery charges were linked to the murder and would pose a problem at trial as evidence was heard.
Andre Zachary Rebelo (pictured with his ex-model partner Gracie Piscopo) has pleaded guilty to fraud charges that prosecutors say are linked to the alleged murder of his mother
Police found the body of Ms Robelo (pictured) at her home in Bicton, Perth, in 2020 and initially ruled her death was not suspicious until the fraud investigation led to the arrest in 2023.
He said that while there is no longer a need for a trial on the fraud charges, it would help the court to have all the charges in the original indictment.
District Attorney Brett Tooker is expected to begin his opening statement Thursday.
The process continues.