It was a murder motivated by greed, prosecutors say, and yesterday a Supreme Court jury heard just how much money the accused, Des Campbell, stood to gain from his wealthy wife and alleged victim, Janet.
By the time he allegedly pushed her off a cliff, six months into their marriage, Campbell had already benefited to the tune of $255,202 from their relationship, his trial was told. He received another $84,906 after her death and was entitled to $127,626 under her will.
He has not received the money from his wife's estate but the court heard that, in total, the relationship would potentially have left Campbell around $467,000 better off.
Janet Fisicaro, 49, was the widow of a well-off Deniliquin farmer when she started going out with Campbell, a paramedic with a list of debts.
In March 2005, while camping with her husband in the Royal National Park, she plunged to her death from a cliff. Their tent was pitched on a headland just metres from the edge.
Campbell, 52, maintains her death was an accident and has pleaded not guilty to her murder.
His trial yesterday heard evidence from Judith McCreath, the forensic pathologist who conducted Mrs Campbell's post-mortem examination. Dr McCreath said bruises on her upper arms could have been caused in the fall, or by what the Crown prosecutor, Mark Tedeschi, QC, described as "vigorous holding by a strong male".
The couple's financial records were also examined. John Fogarty, a forensic accountant with NSW Police, analysed records from January 2003 to December 2005, calculating the financial benefit Campbell received from his wife before and after she died.
Mrs Campbell had paid the deposit and stamp duty on their $660,000 house in Otford and although she provided all the capital, the house was in both their names. Campbell's half equity in the house was worth $184,211, the court heard.
Mrs Campbell had also transferred large amounts of money to her husband's accounts. Combined with the equity, the $70,000 he withdrew from their mortgage account after her death, and his proceeds from the eventual sale of the Otford house, Campbell's benefit totalled over $340,000.
Mrs Campbell's long-term solicitor, David Grant, told the court Campbell's share of her estate was $127, 626 - but it had not been paid.
He had been concerned about Mrs Campbell's relationship with her new husband, he said.
"She was a simple woman, probably below average intelligence.
"She was the type of person that could be easily ... influenced."
The trial continues.
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