Gypsy Heart
Gold Member
AN ELDERLY spinster who left $15 million to her neighbours in her will had no need for money, one of the beneficiaries told a court yesterday.
Tim Knaggs said Betty Dyke "just wanted to make sure she had friends" and was extremely generous to people who helped her. He said she had no interest in material things.
Ms Dyke resisted attempts to improve her living conditions, he said, but the beneficiaries agreed to support her to the end.
"If she thought she was buying friends then 'good on you Betty'," he said.
Mr Knaggs earlier told the Supreme Court will battle that Ms Dyke sold off a portion of her land in 2000 for $1.3 million and divided the proceeds between he and his wife Denise and two other neighbouring couples.
In cross-examination Richard Kendall QC asked Mr Knaggs if the three couples made a commitment that the money was a "forward payment" for them agreeing to care from Ms Dyke and keep her in her home.
Mr Knaggs said no commitment was needed because the couple had her interests at heart.
"We were determined she should not leave her land," Mr Knaggs said.
The Knaggs along with Gary and Diane Smith and Robert and Sandra Allen each received $5 million after Ms Dyke died in 2004, aged 84.
Mr Kendall asked Mr Knaggs if it ever occurred to the couples to improve Ms Dyke's dilapidated farmhouse, give her an inside toilet or provide in-house nursing care.
Mr Knaggs said over the years he suggested her kitchen could be painted or she could get a new television but he said the old lady did not want changes in her life.
The QC said according to other evidence Ms Dyke's greatest wish was to die at home with her pets yet the millionaire spinster ended her days in a shared room in a nursing home.
"That was the last thing she wanted. To be separated from her dogs," Mr Knaggs said.
A relative and two friends of Ms Dyke and three charities are contesting wills made in 1999 and 2001 that left most of the estate to the three couples.
They claim Ms Dyke lacked testamentary capacity because of dementia, ill-health and over-use of painkillers. They also claim she was subject to undue influence from her neighbours.
Mr Knaggs said he had an idea of the value of Ms Dyke's land in 1999 but it was not an issue because there was no suggestion she was going to die.
The ex-police inspector said both of her parents had lived into their 90's.
The hearing is expected to continue today
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24645154-2862,00.html?from=public_rss
Tim Knaggs said Betty Dyke "just wanted to make sure she had friends" and was extremely generous to people who helped her. He said she had no interest in material things.
Ms Dyke resisted attempts to improve her living conditions, he said, but the beneficiaries agreed to support her to the end.
"If she thought she was buying friends then 'good on you Betty'," he said.
Mr Knaggs earlier told the Supreme Court will battle that Ms Dyke sold off a portion of her land in 2000 for $1.3 million and divided the proceeds between he and his wife Denise and two other neighbouring couples.
In cross-examination Richard Kendall QC asked Mr Knaggs if the three couples made a commitment that the money was a "forward payment" for them agreeing to care from Ms Dyke and keep her in her home.
Mr Knaggs said no commitment was needed because the couple had her interests at heart.
"We were determined she should not leave her land," Mr Knaggs said.
The Knaggs along with Gary and Diane Smith and Robert and Sandra Allen each received $5 million after Ms Dyke died in 2004, aged 84.
Mr Kendall asked Mr Knaggs if it ever occurred to the couples to improve Ms Dyke's dilapidated farmhouse, give her an inside toilet or provide in-house nursing care.
Mr Knaggs said over the years he suggested her kitchen could be painted or she could get a new television but he said the old lady did not want changes in her life.
The QC said according to other evidence Ms Dyke's greatest wish was to die at home with her pets yet the millionaire spinster ended her days in a shared room in a nursing home.
"That was the last thing she wanted. To be separated from her dogs," Mr Knaggs said.
A relative and two friends of Ms Dyke and three charities are contesting wills made in 1999 and 2001 that left most of the estate to the three couples.
They claim Ms Dyke lacked testamentary capacity because of dementia, ill-health and over-use of painkillers. They also claim she was subject to undue influence from her neighbours.
Mr Knaggs said he had an idea of the value of Ms Dyke's land in 1999 but it was not an issue because there was no suggestion she was going to die.
The ex-police inspector said both of her parents had lived into their 90's.
The hearing is expected to continue today
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24645154-2862,00.html?from=public_rss
