Twin sister of a man who allegedly killed their mother has given evidence in her brother’s murder trial

The twin sister of a man accused of killing their mother has given evidence in her brother’s murder trial, recalling a phone call with her mum’s psychologist.

The twin sister of a man who allegedly killed his mother to gain money from life insurance policies has given evidence in his trial, telling the court of a phone call with her mother’s psychologist, who shared concerns about her brother.

Monique Rebelo described the day her mother died as “one of the worst days of my life.”

Her brother Andre Zachary Rebelo is on trial for the murder of their mother Colleen who was found dead at her Bicton home in Perth’s southwest on May 25, 2020. He has plead not guilty to the charge.

Last week, the WA Supreme Court was told Mr Rebelo had taken out three life insurance policies against his mother in the week before her death.

State prosecutor Brett Tooker told the court three days after Ms Rebelo died, Mr Rebelo started the claims process to access the insurance premiums.

The jury heard he also 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.

Andre Zachary Rebelo, who has a child with model Gracie Piscopo, has been charged with murdering his mother in May 2020. Picture: Instagram

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.

The jury also heard police reopened the case when one of the insurers reported the matter suspecting an insurance claim against her life was fraudulent.

Mr Rebelo’s twin sister Monique Rebelo told the WA Supreme Court that sometime after her mother’s death she was contacted by a psychologist she shared with her mum.

Monique said the psychologist Narina Sidhu told her that she had concerns about her brother Andre and that he had tried to use her name to find out information about her mum’s insurance.

Colleen Rebelo was found dead at her home in the Perth suburb of Bicton on May 25, 2020, her son Andre Rebelo is alleged to have killed her to gain money from life insurance policies he took out against her in the week before she died.

Monique told the court she called her brother who denied knowing anything about the claims and said the psychologist must have the wrong person.

“Andre eventually texted me later and said Narina had the wrong Colleen and made a mistake, it was a different Colleen the issue was regarding,” she said.

“He knew who Narina was and seemed to be aware.”

Monique was living in Kalgoorlie with her partner but had come to Perth the day before her mother’s death to start training to become a paramedic with St John Ambulance the following day, the court was told.

Monique had planned to stay with her mum and youngest brother Fabian at their family home in Bicton for the duration of the course, and was going to travel back to Kalgoorlie to see her partner on weekends.

Monique told the court she had seen her mother the morning of her death, and she had appeared healthy and happy.

Kelda Read (pictured right) was one of Colleen Rebelo’s closest friends, telling the WA Supreme Court that her friend had shared concerns about Andre Rebelo becoming a social media influencer. Picture: NewsWire

One of Colleen Rebelo’s closest friends, Kelda Read, gave evidence in Ms Rebelo son’s murder trial saying the mother of four was not happy about her Mr Rebelo’s role as a social media influencer.

Ms Read and Ms Rebelo had been friends for about 15 years when she died and met when their children attended primary school together in Bicton.

Ms Read told the court they would regularly meet up for a walk about four times a week.

She told the court Ms Rebello had shared concerns to her about Mr Rebello and his former partner Gracie Piscopo working as social media influencers.

She said Ms Rebello had told her she was not happy about it and did not think it was something that would sustain a long-term lifestyle.

“She was worried about when they got older and someone newer came along, she was not happy about it, but that’s what they did,” she said.

Andre Zachary Rebelo, who has a child with model Gracie Piscopo, has been charged with murdering his mother more than two years ago. Picture: Instagram

Mr Rebelo’s mother had shared concerns with a friend before her death about her son’s career as a social media influencer. Picture: Instagram

Ms Read told the court Ms Rebelo was great at balancing her life while she studied at university to complete a science degree, worked and looked after her children beautifully.

“She used to go down to the East Freo gym and she’d have her study with her on the treadmill,” Ms Read said.

“Things like that did not phase her she just got on with what she had to do and did it well.

“She was a beautiful mum, would do anything for her kids, a wonderful mother.”

Ms Read recalled to the court in the weeks before Ms Rebello died, she was excited about starting a new job on the board of the Health Department

“The last time I saw her we went for a walk and she was talking about how excited she was about her new job and couldn’t wait to start,” she said.

Andre Zachary Rebelo, pictured with his former partner Gracie Piscopo, is on trial for the murder of his mother in May 2020. Picture: Instagram

Colleen Rebelo’s sisters Leonie Randles and Pearl Flemming were called as witnesses in their nephew’s murder trial.

Ms Flemming was visibly upset telling, the court she was not close with her sister despite living on the same street in Bicton.
She said the last time they caught up was when they had bumped into each other at the beach months earlier.

The jury heard Ms Flemming saw a white Land Rover Evoque parked outside her sister’s home about 10.50am on the day she died.

Ms Flemming recalled how she had finished her shift as a bus driver and was returning home when she noticed the car.

“On the way home, I drove past Colleen’s house and saw an unusual car,” she said.

“There was a white Land Rover Evoque I hadn’t seen it before, it was parked out the front on the verge of my sister’s house.”

During her evidence, Ms Flemming told the court she saw the same car parked out the front when she returned to work about 1.30pm.

“The white Land Rover Evoque was still at Colleen’s house,” she said.

State prosecutor Brett Tooker called Colleen Rebelo’s sisters as witnesses in their nephew’s murder trial. Picture: NewsWire/Philip Gostelow

On the day of her sister’s funeral, Ms Flemming said she parked next to a white Land Rover Evoque and saw her nephew Andre, Ms Piscopo and their young son get into the vehicle.

“It looked equally immaculate to the one I saw parked out the front of Colleen’s I figure that was the same car,” she said.

Her eldest sister Ms Randles told the court her sister did not complain but had shared concerns with her about her grandson was growing up in “plastic fantastic lifestyle.”

“That would be my term,” she said.

She said like many single mothers, her sister had struggled financially over the years but worked hard to give her four children a stable home.

Ms Randles said after her sister’s divorce she had suffered from anxiety but dealt with it through exercise and living a healthy lifestyle.

“Colleen was very caring and dedicated to her children,” she said.

“She lived a very healthy lifestyle, was health conscious and loved her exercise,” she said.

The trial continues.