High-Stakes Legal Fight Over Multi-Million Dollar Estate
A major legal confrontation is now underway in the Supreme Court of Western Australia concerning the substantial estate of Virginia Giuffre, who was one of the most prominent victims of the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The case involves multiple family members contesting their rights to her fortune, which was amassed from high-profile compensation claims.
The Tragic Circumstances and Contested Fortune
Virginia Giuffre, 41, died by suicide in April at her property near Neergabby, located approximately 20 kilometres from Perth. She passed away without leaving a legally valid will, creating a complex legal vacuum. Her estate is reported to be worth millions, primarily built from settlements related to her allegations of being sex-trafficked by Epstein as a teenager to his powerful associates.
The most significant single asset is a rumoured $22 million settlement from Prince Andrew. It is crucial to note that this was an out-of-court settlement which accepted no liability, and the former prince has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Ms Giuffre's wealth also included a $770,000 payment from Jeffrey Epstein in 2009 and a subsequent, undisclosed sum from his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently imprisoned in the United States for sex trafficking.
Her property portfolio included four assets, among them a six-bedroom home in Ocean Reef and the Neergabby farm where she died.
The Key Players in the Inheritance Dispute
The legal contest pits Ms Giuffre's two brothers, Sky Roberts and Danny Wilson, against her estranged husband, Robert Giuffre. The couple had separated months before her death. Under Western Australian law, an estranged spouse could be eligible for up to a third of the estate.
However, a pivotal email sent by Ms Giuffre to her lawyers before her death contained explicit instructions that her husband should receive none of her money. This communication is expected to be a central piece of evidence.
In a previous ruling in June, Ms Giuffre's two sons, Christian, 19, and Noah, 18, who reside with their father, were successfully appointed as the administrators of her estate.
Further complicating the matter is the involvement of her brothers in promoting her posthumously published memoir, Nobody's Girl. Other relatives have reportedly criticised their media appearances. It is understood the brothers also hope to manage Ms Giuffre's charity, 'Speak out, Act, Reclaim', for which millions from the estate have been earmarked. In contrast, her paternal aunt, Kimberley Roberts, believes all funds should pass directly to Ms Giuffre's children.
The case is scheduled for a case management hearing this Friday in the WA Supreme Court.
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