Farmer Had Policy On Wife

The Age

Saturday May 6, 2006

By IAN MUNRO

GRAEME King, a struggling dairy farmer, took out a $100,000 insurance policy on Nancy Kaye King's life a month before she was found dead.

This was despite the couple having cancelled two earlier policies because they could not afford the premiums, according to evidence presented to Shepparton Magistrates Court.

Former bank manager Bryan Gannon yesterday said that on the morning of Mrs King's death he had a distressing meeting with the Kings in which he told them he was dishonouring a large cheque and referring them to the bank's credit management section.

He said he was certain it was the day Mrs King died because when he learned of her death from the television news that evening, he blamed himself, thinking she had committed suicide after leaving the meeting "very upset and crying".

About a week after Mrs King's funeral, Graeme King told Mr Gannon of the policy, revealed he had paid only one premium and inquired whether it was valid. Told he would be able to claim on it after a death certificate was issued, "Graeme seemed happy and left the office", Mr Gannon said.

King, 54, is charged with murdering Nancy Kaye King, 38, at Tallygaroopna on June 25, 1991. Her body was found in a water-filled pit next to a disused piggery. King has not been required to enter a plea.

Former stripper Susan Molnar, 31, told the court it was most likely during the year 2000 that King told her that he had killed his wife.

Questioned yesterday by Howard Mason for King, Ms Molnar was adamant she was not distracted by noise in Shepparton's Rawhide club.

Ms Molnar said: "He told me he killed his wife . . . specifically, killed . . . I was really freaked out by it, but I can recall the exact words."

She said much of what was said in strip clubs was "rubbish" but the man's matter-of-fact demeanour left her uncertain what to make of the comments.

Ms Molnar made a statement to police after she was located by Detective Sergeant Henry Van Veenendaal, who reinvestigated the case last year.

A friend of Mrs King, Sharyn Canobie, earlier told the court that Mrs King revealed the couple could not maintain premiums on the earlier life insurance policies.

The hearing, before magistrate Reg Marron, is expected to resume in August.

© 2006 The Age

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