Convicted murderer Wendie-Sue Dent sued family of her victim, David Lawrence, to keep his remains, SA court reveals

Murdering her lover to claim his estate wasn’t enough for this black widow – and now the full extent of her legal web against her victim’s family can be exposed.

A woman who murdered her lover to claim his $300,000 estate also sued his grieving family for control of his remains – preventing them from ever holding a proper funeral for him.

The Advertiser can finally reveal the twisted legal games played by black widow Wendie-Sue Dent, after the Supreme Court on Thursday lifted longstanding suppression orders.

It can now be revealed that, even as SA Police pursued Dent for poisoning David Lawrence and forging a will in his name, she filed multiple lawsuits and injunctions to:

TAKE possession of his remains, which were cremated, from his brothers and sisters;

RESTRAIN the Lawrence family from holding any kind of funeral;

SURRENDER all medical and coronial documents, relating to his death, to her;

HAVE her bogus will, naming her as Mr Lawrence’s sole beneficiary, declared valid; and

FORCE the Lawrences to pay her $100,000 compensation for “treating her poorly” at their brother’s memorial service.

Because of Dent’s subsequent arrest, two murder trials and appeal bids, those lawsuits have remained in limbo since 2015 – costing the Lawrences in excess of $750,000 in fees.

Wendie-Sue Dent during her trial in July 2019. Picture: Sam Wundke

Dent’s victim, David Lawrence. Source: SA Police

Dent, 66, of Dapto in NSW, has a history of fraud and theft offences dating back to 1995, ranging from forging prescriptions to dishonestly taking property.

She has twice been convicted of murdering Mr Lawrence, 63, in December 2015 using her medication – including 20, 100mg tablets of morphine.

Dent also falsified documents, including wills, to cement her hold on Mr Lawrence’s $300,000 estate and repeatedly lied about the manner and cause of his death.

She was jailed for life with a 25-year non-parole period, won a retrial on appeal, convicted a second time, given an identical sentence, and then filed another appeal.

Upon her arrest, Dent falsely claimed Mr Lawrence had died of asbestosis. Picture: SA Police

The false will Dent used in her attempt to claim Mr Lawrence’s estate. Picture: Supreme Court registry

In February 2024, the Court of Appeal rejected Dent’s challenge, bringing her case to an end.

She will not be eligible to seek release on parole until January 2042, when she will be 82.

Two months later, the Lawrences asked the Supreme Court to throw out Dent’s lawsuits, with their counsel saying it was time to end their suffering.

“David’s remains were held at the funeral parlour for some time … the family now has them at their home but, because of this, they can’t do anything with them,” she said.

“The injunctions stop them doing anything with them, and have done since 2015 … there has been a service, but never been a funeral.”

Mr Lawrence’s brother Phillip, centre, and his siblings and friends outside court after Dent’s first sentencing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

In court on Thursday, Judge Graham Dart said he had received correspondence from SA Police confirming the suppression order was no longer needed.

He said he had also received correspondence from Dent’s lawyers, stating they no longer acted for her in any capacity.

Judge Dart said the suppression order no longer served any purpose and revoked it.

However, he said Dent should have an opportunity to be heard about the bid to throw out her lawsuits, though they had little chance of success.

“It would be surprising if one could be found guilty of murdering one’s own partner and then make a claim on their will,” he said.

Simon Ower KC, for the Lawrence family, said he would write to Dent in jail so the matter could be brought to an end.

“There remains at stake a property, an expensive motor home, a car and some other cash, and more than $200,000 in superannuation,” he said.

Judge Dart adjourned the case until next month.

“Hopefully, next time, we can bring this to an end,” he said.