Bitter Inheritance Battle Erupts Over Epstein Accuser's Estate
The seemingly routine listing in Western Australia's Supreme Court register this week - 'Giuffre plus Anor v Louden plus Anor' - concealed a deeply personal and rancorous legal drama unfolding behind closed doors. The dry legal terminology belied the complex human tragedy and bitter family disputes that brought lawyers to a Perth skyscraper for what promises to be the first of many courtroom confrontations.
At the heart of the proceedings lies the estate of Virginia Giuffre, the most prominent accuser of late billionaire financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who took her own life on April 25 this year at just 41 years old. Her death at her remote Neergabby farmhouse, located 50 miles north of Perth, marked a heartbreaking conclusion to a troubled life that had recently seen her achieve global recognition for her bravery in speaking out against powerful abusers.
The Missing Millions and Contentious Will
The legal turmoil stems from fundamental questions about whether Virginia died intestate - without a valid will - triggering a complex dispute over who should inherit what from her estate. Complicating matters further is the mysterious disappearance of significant funds from the £12 million reportedly paid by the late Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of her son, Prince Andrew, following Virginia's allegations that she was trafficked to him at age 17 by Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
Court documents reveal the existing estate amounts to only around half a million Australian dollars (approximately £250,000), raising urgent questions about what happened to the remainder of the royal settlement. Virginia owned at least four properties, including two valued at over £1 million each, and had ring-fenced at least £3 million for her sexual violence support charity, Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR).
Virginia's former lawyer, Craig Hollett, revealed that just eight weeks before her death, she created an informal will in writing, though it hadn't been properly executed. In an email with the subject line 'implied will', Virginia wrote: 'If I don't make it, please don't let Rob have any money' - a clear reference to her estranged husband, Robert Giuffre.
Family Fractures and Competing Claims
The depth of animosity between Virginia and her husband in her final months cannot be overstated. A friend exclusively told the Daily Mail: 'It is fair to say that by the end of her life Virginia absolutely hated Robert. She absolutely did not want him to have any of her money.'
This sentiment is now being tested in court, with Virginia's former barrister Karrie Louden and her housekeeper Cheryl Myers - described as a 'mother figure' to Virginia - mounting a legal challenge against Virginia's adult sons, Christian (19) and Noah (18), who applied to become administrators of her estate. The sons, who still live with their father, are expected to argue that their mother lacked 'testamentary capacity' to make a will excluding their father.
Meanwhile, Virginia's brothers, Sky Roberts and Danny Wilson, issued a statement vehemently denying claims they were seeking financial gain from their sister's estate. They expressed confidence that the court would honour Virginia's wishes that her estate go to her children rather than her 'estranged husband Robert'.
The family divisions extend further, with Virginia's paternal aunt, Kimberly Roberts, telling newspapers this week that Virginia's brothers shouldn't have any claim to the estate, which should go 'to her children only'. The brothers' PR representative dismissed Kimberly's claims, noting her close links to Virginia's father - whom Virginia had accused of raping her as a child in her posthumously published memoir, Nobody's Girl.
Complex Legal Landscape and Ongoing Battles
Under Australian law, because the couple were separated but not divorced, Robert Giuffre may still be entitled to a third of his deceased wife's estate regardless of its value. At yesterday's hearing, contrary to Virginia's final wishes, it was recommended that Robert be added to the proceedings as a potentially interested party.
The court has appointed an interim administrator to oversee the estate during ongoing legal disputes, which promise to be numerous and protracted. Beyond the estate battle, Virginia was involved in several other legal actions at the time of her death, including:
- An ongoing case with US lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who sued her for defamation after she alleged she had been trafficked to him as a minor
- A defamation lawsuit from US-based woman Rina Oh, which an appeals court in New York ruled could proceed despite Virginia's death
The estate itself includes interests in several assets according to court documents:
- 50 shares in Witty River Pty Ltd, which owned the Neergabby farm
- Beneficiary status in the company's family trust
- A 2017 Toyota Kluger and 2024 Chevrolet Silverado
- A horse, jewellery, personal effects and contents of the Neergabby property
As the legal proceedings begin their likely lengthy journey through the courts, they leave behind a poignant legacy of a woman whose death continues to cast a long shadow over those she left behind - and unanswered questions about what truly happened to the Queen's missing millions.
