A Perth man found guilty of brutally murdering his own mother has returned to court, presenting a new and controversial theory about how she died. Andre Rebelo, a failed cryptocurrency trader, was convicted in 2022 of killing his 68-year-old mother, Maria, in their family home in the suburb of Huntingdale.
A Gruesome Discovery and a Failed Defence
The Supreme Court of Western Australia heard that Maria Rebelo was found dead on the laundry floor on the morning of July 1, 2020. She had suffered horrific injuries, including more than 100 sharp-force wounds to her head, neck, and body. The scene was so violent that a pathologist later testified it was one of the worst they had ever seen.
During his trial, Andre Rebelo's defence argued that his younger brother, Tiago Rebelo, was responsible for the killing. This claim was firmly rejected by the jury, which took less than a day to deliver a unanimous guilty verdict for murder. Rebelo was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 20 years before being eligible for parole.
A New Theory Emerges in Court
Rebelo recently appeared before the Court of Appeal in a bid to challenge his conviction. During the proceedings, his legal team, led by barrister Sam Vandongen, put forward a new hypothesis. They suggested that Maria Rebelo may have died from a fall, specifically onto the sharp edges of a laundry tub, and that the subsequent wounds were inflicted by her son Tiago in a state of psychotic confusion after discovering her body.
This new theory attempts to explain forensic evidence, including blood spatter patterns. The defence argued that Tiago, who had a history of mental health issues and was diagnosed with schizophrenia, could have caused the extensive injuries in a dissociative state, believing he was "cutting up a kangaroo."
The Prosecution's Firm Rejection and Family Anguish
State prosecutor Justin Whalley strongly opposed the appeal, dismissing the new scenario as "forensically impossible" and lacking any evidentiary foundation. Whalley argued that the extensive number and nature of the wounds were completely inconsistent with an accidental fall and pointed to Andre Rebelo's own changing accounts and financial motives.
The court was reminded that Andre Rebelo, whose cryptocurrency ventures had failed, was in significant debt. His mother controlled the family finances, and her death potentially freed up assets. Outside court, Tiago Rebelo expressed the family's ongoing pain, stating the appeal process forced them to relive the traumatic loss repeatedly. He described his mother as a kind woman who did not deserve her fate and emphasised that the correct person was in jail.
The three-judge appeal panel has reserved its decision, which will be delivered at a later date. The case highlights a tragic collision of family conflict, mental health, and the high-stakes world of cryptocurrency trading, leaving a Perth family shattered.
