The twin sister of a man who allegedly killed his mother to make money from life insurance policies has given evidence at his trial, telling the court she had a phone call with her mother’s psychologist, who shared her concerns about her brother.
Monique Rebelo described the day her mother died as “one of the worst days of my life.”
Her brother Andre Zachary Rebelo is on trial for the murder of their mother Colleen, who was found dead at her home in Bicton in Perth’s south-west on May 25, 2020. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Last week, the WA Supreme Court was told that Mr Rebelo had taken out three life insurance policies against his mother in the week before her death.
Public prosecutor Brett Tooker told the court three days after Ms Rebelo died that Mr Rebelo initiated the claims process to access the insurance premiums.
The jury heard he also submitted forged documents to one of the insurers, including false medical information about his mother, a coroner’s report and her last will.
He pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud relating to the forged documents.
Andre Rebelo, who has a child with Gracie Piscopo, was charged with his mother’s murder
Ms Rebelo’s cause of death has never been determined.
The court was told her death was unexpected but was not treated as suspicious by first responders who were called to Ms Rebelo’s home when she died.
The jury also heard that police reopened the case when one of the insurers reported the matter and suspected an insurance claim against her life was fraudulent.
Mr Rebelo’s twin sister, Monique Rebelo, told the WA Supreme Court that some time after her mother’s death, she was contacted by a psychologist she shared with her mother.
Monique said psychologist Narina Sidhu told her she was concerned about her brother Andre and that he had tried to use her name to find out information about her mother’s insurance.
Colleen Rebelo was found dead at her home in the Perth suburb of Bicton on May 25, 2020
Monique told the court she called her brother, who denied knowledge of the claims and said the psychologist probably had the wrong person.
“Andre ended up texting me later and saying Narina had the wrong Colleen and made a mistake, it was a different Colleen that the issue was about,” she said.
“He knew who Narina was and seemed aware of it.”
Monique lived with her partner in Kalgoorlie but had come to Perth the day before her mother’s death to begin training as a paramedic with St John Ambulance the next day, the court was told.
Monique planned to stay with her mother and youngest brother Fabian at their family home in Bicton during the course, traveling back to Kalgoorlie to see her partner at the weekend.
Monique told the court she saw her mother the morning of her death and that she looked healthy and happy.
Kelda Read (pictured right) was one of Colleen Rebelo’s closest friends and told the WA Supreme Court that her friend had raised concerns about Andre Rebelo becoming a social media influencer
One of Colleen Rebelo’s best friends, Kelda Read, testified in the murder trial of Ms. Rebelo’s son that the mother of four was not happy with her Mr. Rebelo’s role as a social media influencer.
Mrs Read and Mrs Rebelo had been friends for 15 years when she died and met when their children attended primary school together in Bicton.
Ms Read told the court they regularly met for a walk about four times a week.
She told the court that Ms Rebello had shared her concerns about Mr Rebello and his former partner Gracie Piscopo working as social media influencers.
She said Ms Rebello told her she was not happy with it and did not think it was something that would support a long-term lifestyle.
“She was concerned when they got older and someone newer came along, she wasn’t happy about it, but that’s what they did,” she said.
Prosecutor claims Andre Rebelo (pictured with ex-influener Gracie Piscopo) was tens of thousands of dollars in debt and led a lavish lifestyle
Ms Read told the court that Ms Rebelo was good at balancing her life, as she studied at university to complete a science degree, worked and took care of her children beautifully.
“She often went to the East Freo gym and studied on the treadmill,” Ms Read said.
“Things like that didn’t phase her, she just got on with what she had to do and did it well.
“She was a wonderful mother, would do anything for her children, a wonderful mother.”
Ms Read recalled in court that in the weeks before Ms Rebello died, she was excited about starting a new job on the board of the Ministry of Health
“The last time I saw her, we went for a walk and she talked about how excited she was about her new job and couldn’t wait to get started,” she said.
The process continues.