Katharine Howard-Olsen’s ‘cold’ relationship with daughter

Katharine Howard-Olsen and her daughter had “many fallings-out” over money, court hears.

Artist John Olsen's step daughter Karen Howard Mentink leaving Moss Vale court today. Picture: Adam Yip

The late wife of Australian artist John Olsen, Katharine Howard-Olsen had often fought with her daughter, usually over her demands for money, and their relationship was “fairly cold”, the NSW Supreme Court has been told.

A friend of the Olsens, Nicole McKay, was giving evidence on day two of an ugly court battle between Mr Olsen and his stepdaughter, Karen Mentink, who he is suing, claiming she pressured her mother to sign over $3.3 million from the couple’s estate just two months before her death.

Ms McKay said she had known Mrs Howard-Olsen for 40 years had witnessed numerous “fallings-out” between mother and daughter.

“It was usually something Karen wanted and her mother wasn’t willing … it was usually something financial..” Ms McKay told the court.

“Karen has always wanted to be supported in a certain manner.”

Ms McKay worked as a part time cook at the Olsen’s estate, Hidden Lakes, near Bowral in the Southern Highlands.

In her affidavit she said Ms Mentink had tried to keep her away from her mother in the months before her death on 23 December 2016, convinced she had developed a close, even a sexual relationship with Mr Olsen behind her mother’s back.

In a tense cross examination by Ms Mentink’s barrister, Raoul Wilson, Ms McKay today repeatedly denied she had “flirted” with Mr Olsen while his wife was dying, prompting Mrs Howard-Wilson to banish her from Hidden Lakes, just months before her death.

“She was upset and you knew it because you had been flirting with John,’ Mr Wilson said.

“No,’ Ms McKay replied. “ … John rang me and said Katharine was not quite herself and she had been shouting at people and said it was best that I didn’t come.”

Artist John Olsen claims Karen Mentink pressured her mother to sign over $3.3. Picture: Chris Pavlich/The Australian

John Olsen's "companion" Nicole McKay leaves court today. Picture: Adam Yip

Ms McKay admitted about six months after Mrs Howard-Olsen’s death she had become more involved with Mr Olsen as his “companion”, but denied there was ever a sexual relationship.

But Mr Wilson pressed her further, citing a claim by Ms Mentink she had arrived at the Hidden Lakes in March 2017 — three months after her mother’s death — and found her cooking dinner for Mr Olsen with “slow music going and candles lit.”

Ms McKay said she had no particular memory of a candle lit dinner. But she denied she was trying to “denigrate” Ms Mentink to help support Mr Olsen’s legal claim.

The NSW Supreme Court has heard Mrs Howard-Olsen, who had been married to the 91-year old-artist for 27 years, had suffered a sudden and “dramatic” personality change in June 2016 after secondary brain tumours had left her uncharacteristically “abusive and irrational”.

Mr Olsen is suing Ms Mentink, demanding she return the $3.3 million on the grounds she had placed “undue pressure” on her mother when she knew she was “cognitively impaired” and the money was not hers to give.

But Ms Mentink’s defence lawyers claim the $3.3 million was a gift from her mother, and today accused a series of witnesses of giving “biased” accounts of Ms Mentink’s relationship with her mother and Mr Olsen.

The hearing, which is being heard at the Moss Vale Court House in the NSW Southern Highlands, is 20 minute drive from Mr Olsen’s estate, Hidden Lakes. Media were banned from joining a walk around of the property by Justice John Sackar and both legal teams this afternoon.

Ms Mentink is due to give evidence tomorrow.