Life Insurance 'claimed Twice'

Newcastle Herald

Friday April 15, 2005

By GABRIEL FOWLER

FIVE years before her husband was shot dead, Michelle Willard tried to cash in on her husband's life insurance worth $251,050, Newcastle Supreme Court was told yesterday.

Willard had sought $200,000 from Australian Casualty and Life, a subsidiary of National Mutual, in 1998, the court heard.

Police inspector Darren Boyden said Willard told the company on July 30 that year that her husband Michael had been killed in an accident involving machinery.

Willard has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder over the death of her 38-year-old husband on February 22, 2003.

Mr Willard died after being shot at close range in the head as he lay sleeping in the family's Muswellbrook home.

The prosecution's case is that Willard did not pull the trigger but contracted two other people, Danielle Wilkinson and a juvenile, TJ, to do it for her.

Inspector Boyden told the court yesterday that Willard made two life insurance claims on her husband's life while he was still alive in 1998.

The second claim was made in relation to a life insurance policy Mr Willard had with the AMP Society since September 1996.

On August 17, 1998, Willard contacted AMP telling them of the death of her husband in a mining accident on July 27, 1998, the court heard.

Inspector Boyden said Willard attempted to obtain the amount payable upon her husband's death of $51,050.

The court also heard that in a conversation Willard had with a Lisa Gowing from National Mutual on August 17, the accused said she'd been told by a fortune teller that her husband would die at the age of 34.

In relation to both insurance claims, Willard was told that she needed a death certificate.

In other evidence, videotaped interviews of Willard made by Muswellbrook police were played for the jury yesterday.

At the end of the first interview conducted just hours after Mr Willard's death, Willard was asked if she had had anything to do with her husband's death.

"No, of course not," she answered. "I adore my husband. Anybody would tell you that, anybody . . . the neighbours . . . knew how much I adore Mick."

When asked by Detective Sergeant David Frith if her husband was bleeding when she first saw him after he'd been shot, Willard said: "Well, he looked like he was, there on the head."

Frith: "But was there blood coming out?"

Willard: "I don't know, I just saw this thing."

The trial continues.

© 2005 Newcastle Herald

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