Andre Rebelo found guilty of murdering mother Colleen after eight-week trial in WA Supreme Court

The former partner of a popular social media influencer has been found guilty of murdering his mother as part of a plan to claim life insurance policies he had taken out on her, so he could pursue the appearance he was living a "glamorous" and "perfect life".

Andre Rebelo, a 28-year-old supermarket delivery driver turned crypto currency investor, had been on trial in WA's Supreme Court for the past eight weeks over the death of his mother, 58-year-old Colleen Rebelo, in May 2020.

Her body was found in the running shower of her Bicton home, but her cause of death could not be determined.

Initially her death was not considered suspicious, so Rebelo was not charged with her murder until two years later.

On the first day of his trial Rebelo admitted forging documents relating to her death, including her will and a coroner's report, but he denied he was responsible for killing her.

'Plastic existence'

Prosecutor Brett Tooker alleged the motive for the killing was financial gain because at the time Rebelo and his partner, Gracie Piscopo, were struggling financially despite portraying a "glamorous and perfect" lifestyle on social media.

Mr Tooker told the jury it was in the pursuit of this "plastic existence" that put Rebelo in tens of thousands of dollars in debt and led to him murdering his mother.

The court was told in the week before his mother's death, Rebelo had taken out three life insurance policies in her name, worth $1.5 million, which she did not know about.

Rebelo was named in two of them as the sole beneficiary — a beneficiary could not be named in the third — and Mr Tooker said Rebelo did not tell his three siblings he had taken out the policies.

After his mother's death he had then made repeated contact with the insurance companies to try to claim the money.

Rebelo elected to testify at the trial maintaining under oath he did not murder his mother.

He revealed he had visited his mother on the day of her death and discussed the life insurance policies, saying he spent about 45 minutes with her before telling her he loved her and leaving.

Under cross examination Rebelo admitted he had not told the police about the visit, claiming at the time he was not in "the right state of mind".

He also suggested his mother may have committed suicide, testifying that was why he had tried to rush through his claims on her life insurance policies because if it was discovered she had taken her own life, they would have been void.

Right to silence waived

Ms Piscopo was called as a defence witness, testifying Rebelo, with whom she has a young son, appeared "ordinary" on the day he murdered his mother.

She told the court she was largely unaware of the couple's financial position because Rebelo looked after all the money, but maintained that while the funds in her business fluctuated, they did have money coming in.

In a closing address to the jury, Rebelo's barrister Tony Elliott highlighted that despite his right to silence, his client had chosen to give evidence and then be cross examined by the prosecutor.

Mr Elliott described Rebelo's evidence as "truthful" saying while he had told lies, his explanations at the trial, under oath, provided the context and explanations for them.

The jury deliberated for almost two days before finding Rebelo guilty.

He is now likely to face a life jail term.

Gracie Piscopo was not in court for the verdict, but Rebelo’s father, Antonio, was.

When asked by reporters outside court for his reaction to the verdict, he described it as “sad and disappointing”.

He said he would be standing by his son.

Rebelo was remanded in custody and is due to face a sentencing hearing in April which will also deal with the fraud offences to which he pleaded guilty.