Kathy Jackson says blackmail, threats used in $30m will battle over David Rofe estate

Kathy Jackson delivers scathing attack on a ‘childlike’ man who is one of 12 parties fighting over barrister David Rofe’s fortune.

Kathy Jackson during lunch break from court proceedings in Sydney. Picture: Jeremy Piper

A “childlike” man fighting for a slice of barrister David Rofe’s $30m fortune has been accused by former union boss Kathy Jackson of “blackmailing” and “threatening” the ailing silk while she was trying to help the dementia patient cobble together a final will in 2014, a court has heard.

A dozen beneficiaries are squabbling over how to divide the wealthy barrister’s estate in the NSW Supreme Court, where they are accusing each other of using nefarious methods or “undue influence” to trick, charm, or force their way into Rofe’s prized final will.

The warring beneficiaries include Ms Jackson, the former Health Services Union chief and Rofe’s estate executor, who is battling alongside Rofe’s carer and ex-partner Gregg Hele, the barrister’s “virtual son” Nick ­Llewellyn, and rival nephews James and Philip Rofe.

Ms Jackson met Rofe in May 2012 — almost two years after he was diagnosed with dementia — and quickly graduated from the silk’s acquaintance to a self-styled “day wife”.

Within two years, she became one of the biggest beneficiaries in the barrister’s many wills and is poised to inherit up to $3m.

David Rofe and Kathy Jackson.

Ms Jackson told the court on Thursday that Rofe’s estranged friend, Mr Llewellyn, was a “parasite” and an “odious human being” who had tried to drive a wedge between Rofe, his family, and her former partner Michael Lawler, Rofe’s fin­ancial controller and former vice-president of the Fair Work Commission.

Mr Llewellyn could walk away debt-free with $6m if the court upholds a will written in March 2014.

However, if the court upholds the final will written in December, he would inherit $3m and be forced to pay back a massive amount of debt. He is also the occupier of Rofe’s luxury Gold Coast apartment and has previously claimed to have been the barrister’s “virtual son, dependent and close friend”.

Nick Llewellyn. Picture: John Feder

Philip Rofe, nephew of David Rofe. Picture: John Feder

He previously claimed to have been a “virtual son, dependant and close friend” of Rofe.

Ms Jackson, who admitted in a signed affidavit to personally typing Rofe’s final will, said the relationship between Mr Llewellyn and Rofe had broken down in the lead-up to the contested December 2014 will.

She said Mr Llewellyn blackmailed Rofe, “plied” him with alcohol, stole the barrister’s cheques and would occasionally collapse on to the floor crying and threatening to “kill himself” if Rofe didn’t do “X, Y and Z”.

“(Mr Llewellyn) is an odious human being who has no redeeming qualities,” she said. “There is a special place in hell for Mr Llewellyn … He played on David’s weaknesses.”

She said Mr Llewellyn’s confidant and adviser Nick Illek, who is a self-described “end-of-life specialist”, often “got his way with David” and “got him to sign what he wanted him to sign”.

Rofe died aged 85 in 2017. He wrote about 40 wills, most after 2010 as he slowly succumbed to advanced dementia. Several changes were made to his will between 2013 and 2014.

At one stage, Ms Jackson almost lost her inheritance after a falling out with Rofe, only to have it restored later.

On Thursday, she revealed she had helped Rofe prepare up to “four or five” drafts of the barrister’s final will.

The hearing continues before judge Geoff Lindsay.