$5m will greed denied in Betty Dyke case
By Norrie Ross
November 11
A FORMER police inspector who jointly inherited $5 million from his spinster neighbour yesterday told a judge, "I'm not avaricious".
Tim Knaggs said Betty Dyke asked for assistance when she was drawing up a new will in 1999 but he didn't know details of the finalised document.
He told Supreme Court Justice Peter Vickery he knew Ms Dyke planned to leave land to him and wife Denise, Gary and Diane Smith and Robert and Sandra Allen, also neighbours.
Mr Knaggs also said he was present when his wife, a joint guardian, told hospital staff if Ms Dyke suffered cardiac arrest her notes were to state NFR -- not for resuscitation.
Mr Knaggs said Ms Dyke was a woman who "liked to reward people for their loyalty", and said he was not fully aware of the terms of her will until after she was admitted to hospital in June 2002.
But he was present when Ms Dyke told people she was happy to leave her land to friends who had helped her.
Mr Knaggs said he and his wife removed the will and other documents from Ms Dyke's home after she went into hospital because they were worried about security.
Under cross-examination from Richard Kendall, QC, he said he saw the 1999 will among the papers but didn't look at it. "I'm not avaricious," Mr Knaggs said.
He agreed that after Ms Dyke sold some land in December 2000 each couple got almost $420,000. He described it as a "straight-out gift" and not made on the understanding the couples would care for Ms Dyke until she died.
The trial has been told Ms Dyke's home was dilapidated and she lived and slept in a filthy kitchen, shared with five dogs and sick birds in cages.
Ms Dyke had severe Alzheimer's disease when admitted to Frankston Hospital.
Julie Nicholson, a second cousin of Ms Dyke, two friends of Ms Dyke and three charities are contesting the will. The hearing is to continue today.
SOURCE: The Herald Sun
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