Andre Rebelo, a 29-year-old man from Perth, has been sentenced to a minimum of 25 years imprisonment for the murder of his mother, Colleen Rebelo. His heinous act involved killing her in their Bicton home and attempting to make it appear as though she died of natural causes, all in a bid to fraudulently collect on her million-dollar life insurance policy.
During the sentencing at the Western Australian Supreme Court, Justice Bruno Fiannaca characterised Rebelo’s actions as “monstrous” and underscored the betrayal of trust inherent in murdering his own mother. He condemned the “amateurish” nature of Rebelo’s scheme, which emerged from desperation, as he was over $100,000 in debt to his influencer girlfriend, Grace Piscopo.
The judge remarked on how Rebelo “stripped her of her dignity” through his actions, with his mother found deceased in the shower. The court highlighted that Rebelo’s obsession with maintaining a lavish lifestyle eclipsed any sense of familial connection, leading him to devise a plan that ultimately cost him his freedom and his relationship with his six-year-old son, who will now grow up with the knowledge that his father is incarcerated and deprived of a grandmother.
Rebelo’s hopes of securing the insurance payout were dashed when investigators uncovered his forgeries in an elaborate scheme that did not hold up under scrutiny. Outside the court, Antonio Rebelo, the father of Andre, expressed disbelief at his son’s capacity for such a crime, stating, “No, we didn’t really know what happened to his mother.” He conveyed ongoing support for his son despite the gravity of the situation.
Ultimately, Rebelo will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years, but the damage inflicted on his family and the trust breached with the murder of his mother will linger long after his release. This shocking case serves as a grim reminder of how far some individuals may go under the burden of financial desperation.