An alleged murder victim was fit and healthy at the time of her death, a court has been told

The mother of a man accused of killing her to gain money from life insurance policies he took out against her was ‘fit and healthy’ at the time she died, court told.

The mother of a man accused of killing her did not have any serious health issues that would have caused her death when she was found dead in her Perth home four years ago.

Colleen Rebelo’s doctor Niall Barrett gave evidence in her son Andre Zachary Rebelo’s murder trial saying his patient was a fit and healthy woman at the time of her death.

“There were a few small issues with her health, I don’t think anything was being ignored and they were being managed” he said.

“She did not have any serious health issues, she was fit really, she had no serious life shortening or life threatening issues.”

Dr Barrett told the WA Supreme Court he had treated Ms Rebelo for 21/2 years before she died, and she had seen other doctors at his practice before him.

Dr Niall Barrett told the WA Supreme Court that his patient Colleen Rebelo did not have any health conditions that would shorten her life at the time she died. Picture: Facebook

“She had three significant issues – an under active thyroid, low bone density and gastritis,” Dr Barrett said.

“She also saw me primarily to get a referral to a psychologist, I did a mental health care plan on a couple of occasions to assist that process.”

Dr Barrett said her thyroid problem was a “very easy disease to treat” with medication, and she was taking medication to treat osteopenia and gastritis.

He told the court he conducted mental health assessments with Ms Rebelo in the years before she died and made a diagnosis that she experienced generalised anxiety disorder.

Ms Rebelo’s doctor said she was not depressive but her anxiety had been triggered by her marriage breakdown and the stress of supporting four children on her own.

“She had a great relationship with her kids but did not feel like she had a lot of support from friends or family,” he said.

Andre Zachary Rebelo, who has a child with model Gracie Piscopo, is on trial for the murder of his mother Colleen Rebelo who was found dead in her home four years ago. Picture: Instagram

“In July 2019, I would say she had a big burden of responsibility supporting her children, she had raised them on her own, she was working and studying to complete her masters in public health policy.

“She was very demanding of herself; I don’t think at any stage she was anything but forward looking.

“I don’t think she was depressed or had truly negative thoughts, she just needed support because it was tough for her, and her youngest Fabian had really serious health problems.

“She generally had a lot to worry about.”

Ms Rebelo’s son Andre Zachary Rebelo is on trial for her murder. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Andre Zachary Rebelo, pictured with his former defacto Gracie Piscopo, took out three life insurance policies in the week before his mother died. Picture: Instagram

Last week, the court was told Mr Rebelo took out three life insurance policies against her in the week before her death.

Days after Ms Rebelo died, Mr Rebelo started the claims process to access the insurance premiums.

The court was told he submitted forged documents to one of the insurers, including false medical information about his mother, a coroner’s report and her last will and testament.

He pleaded guilty to four charges of fraud in relation to the forged documents.

Ms Rebelo’s cause of death has never been established.

The court was told while her death was unexpected it was not treated as suspicious by first responders who were called to Ms Rebelo’s home when she died.

One of the insurers reported the claim to police after suspecting it was fraudulent.

The trial continues.

Originally published as An alleged murder victim was fit and healthy at the time of her death, a court has been told