Civil war: Slain underworld boss’ wife to fight for daughter’s share of George Williams’ fortune

A CIVIL war is brewing over the estate of gangland boss Carl Williams’ father, George, with the women in his life at loggerheads about how to carve up what he owned.

George Williams’ will leaves this Essendon property to his granddaughter.

A CIVIL war is brewing over the estate of gangland boss Carl Williams’ father, George.

The women in his life are at loggerheads about how to carve up what he owned, with nasty allegations flying between daughter-in-law Roberta Williams and his de facto Kathleen Bourke.

Their feud is so bitter that despite recently being co-executors of the will, they do not talk.

Probate was granted over the estate only last week, despite George’s death on May 12 last year.

George’s will leaves an Essendon property, valued about $1 million, to Carl and Roberta’s teenage daughter Dhakota, and a Broadmeadows property to Ms Bourke.

Roberta, her partner and children live in the Essendon home.

George Williams.

Carl Williams.

After months of messy mediations, Roberta was ditched as an executor, putting Ms Bourke in the driver’s seat to sell the home where Roberta and her family live.

On Tuesday, Roberta will mount a legal challenge to regain her position as a co-executor, and she plans to dispute the will.

“This isn’t about me, I don’t want any sympathy,” she said.

“This is for Dhakota and what her grandparents wanted for her. It’s also what Carl wanted for her and it’s her inheritance.’’

Ms Bourke declined to comment.

George died with a $720,000 tax debt, over which the women are at odds how to pay.

The debt is now set to be paid out by the sale of the Essendon property, leaving Dhakota with a lesser inheritance.

Roberta wants it subtracted from the entire estate, to protect more of her daughter’s inheritance.

Roberta Williams with daughter Dhakota Willimas. Picture: Bradley Hunter

Carl Williams attempted to wipe his father’s tax bill in return for co-operating with police and giving testimony, but his jailhouse murder scuppered the deal. The ATO has a caveat over the Essendon property. It recently sent letters to Roberta and is circling for payment.

Roberta and her family have lived in the Primrose St house since George’s wife Barb died in 2008.

The court case could unearth messy allegations George siphoned a large sum of money from an account in Dhakota’s name.

Since George’s death, Roberta has disputed the validity of his will, signed in December 2010, on several grounds, including his mental state when it was drafted eight months after his son was bludgeoned to death in Australia’s most infamous prison murder.

In a 2009 version, George bequeathed the Essendon property to Dhakota and $130,000 to Ms Bourke along with all his chattels.

Service booklet for Barbara Ann Williams at her funeral service.

Kathleen Bourke, George’s partner.

Roberta — who was last year declared bankrupt over a $300,000 tax bill — also contests the relationship between George and Ms Bourke, said to be longstanding.
She is the sister of his late wife.

Simmering tensions between Roberta and Ms Bourke boiled over on the night George died of a heart attack after putting a new TV up in his Broadmeadows house.

Ms Bourke claimed jewellery went missing in frantic scenes at the property where she and George lived after Roberta and two of her daughters arrived as paramedics worked on the dying gangland figure. Ms Bourke withdrew the accusations with police after locating the jewellery.

Lawyer Michael Clohesy, of Clohesy Legal, now acting for Roberta, said it was likely the Essendon property would be sold.

“Roberta’s issues are that she has been shut out from the estate’s administration process,’’ he said.

“It means you now have one executor in complete control of the estate. She (Ms Bourke) can sell Essendon to pay the bills. Roberta is no longer executor because she’s been gazumped by Kathleen.’’