A Polish nightclub boss accused of being a ‘call girl’ who swindled her financier lover out of a large chunk of his £18 million estate has been found dead, MailOnline can reveal.
Magdalena Zalinska, 44, was sued by Danny Truell’s brother in the High Court over claims she obtained £4 million through ‘undue influence’ before he died of a neurological condition aged 55 in 2019.
But the case has taken a mysterious turn after her body was discovered by police who broke down the door of her apartment in Clapham, south London, when officers on a routine patrol were approached by neighbors concerned for her well-being.
Police have confirmed to MailOnline that Ms Zalinska’s sudden death is not being treated as suspicious, but as unexpected.
The divorced mother of two was at the center of a bitter fight with the family of millionaire former Goldman Sachs banker Mr Truell.
The sudden death of nightclub boss Magdalena Zalinska is not considered suspicious
Ms Zalinska, who left more than £1 million in Mr Truell’s will, denied the allegations and insisted they were in a ‘romantic and loving relationship’ for 14 years.
Mr Truell’s brother, Edi, 61, who is also a city financier, claimed that although she had a sexual relationship with his brother, as of 2012 she was his paid carer and did not live with him.
A lifelong member of the Labor Party, Danny Truell was a contemporary of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Balliol College, Oxford, and regularly faced him in debates.
He became a hugely successful fund manager. After leading Goldman Sachs’ asset management division, he joined Britain’s largest charity, the Wellcome Trust, in 2005 as chief investment officer.
In 12 years, his assets under management grew from £12.3 billion to £20.9 billion. He also allowed it to double the amount it gave each year to more than £1 billion.
The house in Clapham, South London where Danny Truell had a flat and where Mrs Zalinska’s body was found
He divorced his wife of 16 years, Naomi, in 2011, and the following year he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which later became a form of motor neuron disease.
Balliol College alumni Danny Truell (pictured) became a hugely successful fund manager
In Supreme Court Justice Michael Green, Mr. Truell said Mr. Truell had considerable personal wealth, but led “an apparently frugal lifestyle,” did not drive, had expensive hobbies, or took many vacations, and lived in “a modest and ill-appointed basement and grounds.” . floor maisonette’ near Clapham Junction. During his illness, he was “addicted to alcohol,” the judge added.
In his will, he described Mrs. Zalinska, a Polish national, who also struggled with alcohol, as his “partner and dependents.”
The lawsuit was about a series of transfers to her before Mr. Truell died.
These include £1.34 million paid between 2013 and 2018 to a company she used to operate her London nightclub Southwark Rooms.
A further £915,000 went direct to her in electronic transfers, £1,366m in spending and withdrawals with his debit card, while he also transferred to her his interest in the flat she had previously rented from him in Clapham where her body was discovered .
Mrs Zalinska (pictured) received more than £1 million in Mr Truell’s will
Ms Zalinska (pictured), 44, a Polish citizen, was left over £1 million in Mr Truell’s will
Lawyers for Edi Truell said she had also used her Southwark nightclub as a “cover” to raise huge sums of money that have since disappeared.
Ms Zalinski’s former husband, Wojtek Zalinski (pictured), confirmed her death to MailOnline
At a hearing earlier this year, Judge Michael Green said Ms Zalinska was ‘justifiably offended in my opinion by any suggestion that she did not have a deep and loving relationship with the deceased, or that she had taken advantage of him’.
Ms Zalinska claimed to have met Mr Truell at the end of his previous marriage and to have started a relationship with him in 2004. The pair moved into the basement flat in Clapham in 2016.
Mr Truell’s brother and former lawyer John Rayner Hatchard, as executors of his estate, claimed that evidence casts doubt on the ‘quality’ of the relationship.
Their lawyer Edward Hicks told the judge that Mr Truell had two ‘very separate’ lives – one with his family and the other with Ms Zalinska, with whom he had a ‘very strange relationship’.
He said a crucial question at trial would be whether Mr Truell was in a relationship akin to ‘husband and wife’ or whether it was ‘characterized by promiscuity’, which he knew nothing about.
Ms Zalinska was taken to court by Edi Truell (pictured), Danny Truell’s brother
“Is this a lady misrepresenting her relationship with Danny?” he told a hearing in February.
The apartment door in the property that was smashed by Metropolitan Police officers
“We have evidence that she had relationships with other people.”
Mrs Zalinska’s sudden death means Mr Truell’s attempts to find out what happened to the millions may never be known.
Her former husband Wojtek Zalinski confirmed her death to MailOnline, saying he flew to the UK from his home in Krakow, Poland, to help determine what had happened to her.
Mr Zalinski denied claims his ex-wife was a prostitute, saying: ‘That was absolute nonsense, she was never a call girl. Never. I don’t know why such hurtful things were said about her in court. That is wrong and should not have been said. She’s not here to defend herself, so I will.
“I got a call and was told she had passed away. I don’t remember but will fly to London to be with family,” he added.
Mr Zalinski said he and his ex-wife divorced 20 years ago but have kept in touch. He last saw her a year ago.
The basement flat in Clapham had previously been described as ‘modest and poorly furnished’
Police said officers were approached on Saturday by people concerned about Ms Zalinska’s well-being.
A Met police spokesman said: “Officers forced their way in and found a 46-year-old woman dead. Her next of kin have been notified.
“The death is being treated as unexpected, although initial investigations showed it was not suspicious.”
A full trial of the £4 million claim against Ms Zalinska is scheduled for next year.
Lawyers for Ms Zalinska and Mr Truell’s estate declined to comment.