Strathfield doctor Peter Alexakis wins case to inherit $24 million from patient Raymond McClure

Doctor Peter Alexakis is set to inherit $24 million from one of his patients after winning a long-running battle in the NSW Supreme Court.

A doctor will inherit $24 million left to him by a wealthy ­patient after a legal battle with The Salvation Army and the ­deceased man’s ex-business partner and friends.

It is the second time Strathfield GP Dr Peter Alexakis had been left money in a patient’s will.

Dr Alexakis had denied in the NSW Supreme Court accusations of committing “fraud” and exerting undue “influence” after his 83-year-old patient Raymond McClure wrote two wills months before he died of cancer in 2017 that left the doctor 90 per cent of Mr McClure’s $27m estate.

The previous major beneficiaries to Mr McClure’s will launched legal action to have it declared invalid, claiming Dr Alexakis abused his position of trust by befriending and caring for the elderly man prior to his death.

But Justice Patricia Henry found there was no evidence to sustain either allegation made against Dr Alexakis, who lives in Vaucluse, when she ruled on Tuesday that the wills were valid, paving the way for Dr Alexakis to collect the money.

Strathfield GP Dr Peter Alexakis has won a long-running court case to inherit the bulk of the estate of Raymond McClure (inset bottom), including his home (inset top).

The long-running trial also heard another patient had written a will in 2005 that left Dr Alexakis their entire $80,000 estate.

Police investigated Dr Alexakis but dropped the probe after finding no evidence of wrongdoing.

Mr McClure never married and had no children before he was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and died in November 2017.

He earned his fortune from a property portfolio and the sharemarket, and had a keen interest in horse racing and gambling.

He made six wills between 1986 and July 1987. Earlier versions left most of his wealth to his 40-year business partner Frank Camilleri, longtime friend Hildegard Schwanke and her family, and The Salvation Army.

However, he made two more in June and July 2017, which left most of his estate to Dr Alexakis, who had been treating him at the Strathfield Family Medical Centre since 2014.

Dr Alexakis’s home in Vaucluse. Picture: John Grainger

The June will left Dr Alexakis 65 per cent of the estate, while Mr Camilleri and Ms Schwanke got 25 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.

The July will increased Dr Alexakis’s share to 90 per cent of Mr McClure’s share portfolio — worth about $21 million — and his $3 million Strathfield home.

Dr Alexakis told the court he only became aware of the July will after being told of Mr McClure’s death on March 13, 2018.

The Salvation Army, and Ms Schwanke launched legal action challenging the validity of the wills.

The court heard Dr Alexakis formed a close bond with Mr McClure and made regular hospital visits and 92 visits to his home from June to October in 2017.

In June 2017, Mr McClure hired a solicitor to alter his will. The court heard the solicitor, Angelo Andresakis, had been introduced to McClure by Dr Alexakis.

Police investigated Dr Alexakis after receiving a complaint, but no action was taken.

The court heard Mr McClure told detectives: “Dr Alexakis is not only his GP but also his close friend.”

After the investigation, Dr Alexakis ceased acting as Mr McClure’s GP and recommended he obtain legal advice to reassess his “last will and testament”, the court heard.

Justice Henry told the court there was no evidence that Dr Alexakis exerted undue influence over Mr McClure.

In relation to Dr Alexakis withdrawing as Mr McClure’s GP, Justice Henry told the court Dr Alexakis’ decision to cease acting as Mr McClure’s GP indicated he was not seeking to “manipulate Mr McClure”.

The Salvation Army claimed Dr Alexakis committed fraud by failing to disclose he had introduced the same solicitor to another person who drew up a will in 2005 that left the doctor his entire estate worth $80,000.

Justice Henry rejected this claim and told the court it was “speculative” as to how Mr McClure would have reacted had he known about the 2005 will.

The judge also rejected a claim that Dr Alexakis committed fraud by offering to take care of Mr McClure once he left the hospital.

Justice Henry said there was no evidence Dr Alexakis made the offer.

Mr Camilleri has launched a separate case against Dr Alexakis in the NSW Supreme Court in an attempt to prevent him getting the estate. Dr Alexakis is contesting that case, too.

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