Dead woman's family hopes husband will stand trial

JANET Campbell's family has waited more than two years for her former husband Desmond to answer questions about how she mysteriously plunged to her death from a cliff-top in Sydney's south.

JANET Campbell's family has waited more than two years for her former husband Desmond to answer questions about how she mysteriously plunged to her death from a cliff-top in Sydney's south.

They want to know why Mr Campbell pitched the couple's tent in such an isolated and precarious spot, just 5m from the cliff's edge, when there were designated camping sites nearby.

They want to know how she could have fallen from the cliff before nightfall, when the drop to the ocean was clearly visible.

But most of all they want to see Des Campbell, who had married Janet six months before her fatal fall, face a trial for the murder of the 49-year-old mother of one.

This week, for the first time since Mrs Campbell's death in March 2005, her family -- including Stephen Fisicaro, her child from her first marriage -- sat in the same room as Mr Campbell during an inquest at Sydney's Glebe Coroner's Court.

The inquest was told that Mr Campbell was the only "person of interest" in the death of his wealthy wife, who left him $120,000 in her will.

While Mrs Campbell's family didn't get the answers they were seeking from Mr Campbell -- he exercised his right to silence when called to the witness stand yesterday -- they are hopeful that the case may now go before a jury after Coroner Jacqueline Milledge referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration of the laying of charges. "We're very relieved it's all over. The next step -- I can't guess it -- but we just hope he goes to trial," Mrs Campbell's brother, Kevin Neander, said outside the court.

But if questions remain about Mrs Campbell's death, the life of Des Campbell was laid bare during the two-week inquest.

A string of his ex-lovers told the court of his charm, and grand promises. Others spoke of his temper, his greed and his lies.

Janette Aldred told how she stayed with Mr Campbell at his home in Helensburgh, in Sydney's south, until days before Mrs Campbell's death.

Ms Aldred, who met Mr Campbell on an internet dating site, did not know he was married.

Another former girlfriend, Jennifer Dunlop, told the court this week that she only found out Mr Campbell was married when police interviewed her after Mrs Campbell's death. She alleged that he had not expressed grief around the time of her death.

The inquest heard from other women who claimed they had been fleeced of large sums of money by Mr Campbell.

Ex-girlfriend June Ingham told the court she had bought him a $60,000 sports car, which he later sold and kept the proceeds.

And just days after Mrs Campbell's death, her husband enjoyed a holiday at a five-star Townsville resort with Gorica Velicanski -- another lover who was unaware of Mrs Campbell's existence.

Yesterday Mr Campbell's brother, Neil Campbell, told the inquest that he went to comfort his sibling after the fatal fall of his wife, without knowing that he had even been married to her.

The widower was drinking heavily, his eyes were bloodshot, and he appeared to be depressed, Neil Campbell said. Sensing that the "world was closing in" on his brother, Neil suggested that he go on holiday. He was unaware that Des had already booked a trip with Ms Velicanski.

Neil Campbell also said that his brother had told him in April 2004 that he was being stalked by a rich woman, but said he could not bring himself to have sex with her as she was "pig ugly".

At the end of the inquest Mr Neander said the hearing had been hard on the family. He said he and his two sisters had tried to warn their sibling against having a relationship with Mr Campbell, but she didn't listen to them.

"We tried but she was bitten by love and we couldn't do anything about it. We really tried," he said. "He just picked from the word go that she had money and she'd be easy prey."