Arabic version: زوجان من وولونغونغ ينتظران الحكم عليهما في قضية احتيال على تركة

According to ABC News, Matthew Barnes, 40, and Magnolia Rose Farmer, 41, have pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception in connection with a plot targeting the $6.7 million estate of Marino Mikleus. Their sentencing hearing in Wollongong District Court was adjourned, with Judge Imad Abdul-Karim due to sentence them in December.

The court heard that Mikleus died aged 67 in 2023. Barnes allegedly broke into one of Mikleus’s East Corrimal homes after his death and stole identification documents. He then created a fraudulent will that listed himself as Mikleus’s spouse, despite being in a relationship with Farmer at the time. The pair share three children.

Barnes began probate proceedings through a lawyer, and the Supreme Court granted probate in January 2024. Concerns were later raised with police by Mikleus’s friends. Farmer assisted by witnessing the will and giving the lawyer a false account of the supposed relationship, the court heard.

The court was told Farmer received $156,800 in cash from the estate and spent money on a cruise holiday with her children, a Toyota RAV4, jewellery and other luxury items. The NSW Crime Commission is seeking to recover the estate proceeds, although the court heard that the lion’s share has not been repaid.

Prosecutor Tanya Collison described Barnes as the ringleader and said Farmer had an active role as a willing participant. Farmer told the court she was deeply regretful and said her relationship with Barnes involved domestic violence and coercive control. Barnes remains in custody, while Farmer is on bail. His methamphetamine use and gambling problems were cited as contributing factors, but Ms Collison rejected a proposed intensive corrections order for him.