Melissa Caddick post mortem a challenge for NSW police

The post mortem on Melissa Caddick’s foot has been completed but the findings have proved a challenge for police and forensic experts.

Forensic experts may never be able to determine how business woman Melissa Caddick’s foot was severed before being found on a south coast beach.

The post mortem on the foot, which has since been cremated in a private ceremony attended by her parents, partner and son, has been completed but police have revealed that the condition of the remains means what happened to the body may never be known.

Six police officers are working full time preparing the brief of evidence for State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan but are not expected to be ready by the due date of June 17, the Federal Court has been told.

Supplied picture of Melissa Caddick and her partner Anthony Koletti

Melissa Caddick’s decomposing foot was found in her shoe on February 21

The self-styled financial adviser’s decomposing foot was found in a rare Asics shoe on February 21 at Bournda Beach south of Tathra, 400km away from her mansion in Dover Heights. It was over three months since the 49-year-old was last seen on November 12, the morning after a raid by the Australian Federal Police as part of an Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) investigation into her and her company Maliver.

The rest of her body remains missing after what police began as a homicide investigation which is being dealt with as a missing person.

Detective Sergeant Michael Foscholo has told ASIC investigators that as of March, police had received no forensic reports about how the foot was severed.

Melissa Caddick MD and Financial planner, at home in Paddington. pic by Andy Baker.

“It’ll probably take a few more weeks to get this info. It may or may not be something the pathologist can determine depending on the condition of the remains,” Sgt Foscholo of Paddington police told ASIC in an email on March 17.

The latest details were released on Wednesday by the Federal Court which is considering appointing a “contradictor” to represent Caddick in what could be a complicated dispute over what belonged to her and what belonged to Maliver as ASIC seeks to claw back as many assets as possible to repay her 68 victims the $25 million she scammed from them.

Most of the money was blown on high-end jewellery, designer clothes and overseas holidays.

ASICS raid on Melissa Caddick at her Dover Heights home in November 2020. Picture: NSW Police, Source: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/91AnxTqbpJ

“Yeah it’s definitely been a busy time for everyone,” Sgt Foscholo replied to ASIC queries.

“I have six staff preparing the brief (of evidence) at the moment. Our due date was 17 June. Could take an extra few weeks or months, it’s a bit hard to say at this stage.

“We’re getting statements off all the investors/associates/family members etc and all police involved in the response. So there is quite a bit to compile.”

The officer said that he did not know whether an inquest would be held into Caddick’s cause and manner of death or whether the coroner would be “satisfied based on the evidence we provide”.

The matter is due to return to court for a hearing before Justice Brigitte Markovic on June 29.