In a shocking case that has captivated Australia, Andre Rebelo, a 29-year-old former crypto trader, has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his mother, Colleen Rebelo, in a calculated scheme to cash in on life insurance policies worth over $1 million. The sentencing took place on April 1, 2025, nearly four months after a lengthy trial in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, where a jury found him guilty of matricide.
Colleen, 58, was discovered dead in the shower of her Bicton home on May 25, 2020, just days after her son had taken out three life insurance policies in her name. The court heard that Rebelo, who had been struggling with significant financial debt, was motivated by a desire to maintain a lavish lifestyle alongside his then-girlfriend, social media influencer Gracie Piscopo.
Justice Bruno Fiannaca, who presided over the case, described Rebelo's actions as a "monstrous act" and an "incomprehensible betrayal of the person who had brought you into the world." He emphasized that Rebelo's fabricated persona as a successful investor was more important to him than the familial bond he shared with his mother.
The trial, which lasted almost eight weeks and involved the testimony of around 50 witnesses, revealed the extent of Rebelo's financial troubles. At the time of his mother's death, he was over $100,000 in debt, primarily due to failed cryptocurrency investments and the extravagant lifestyle he and Piscopo portrayed online.
Prosecutors argued that Rebelo's plan to kill his mother was premeditated, as he had taken out the insurance policies just days before her death, naming himself as the sole beneficiary. The court heard that Rebelo had also forged documents, including a will and coroner's report, in an attempt to claim the insurance money. This deceitful act was described by Justice Fiannaca as particularly depraved.
According to the evidence presented, Rebelo had created an email address in his mother's name and took out the insurance policies between May 18 and May 20, 2020. On the day of the murder, he visited his mother for about an hour before her body was found by his younger brother, Fabian. Authorities initially did not treat her death as suspicious, as there were no drugs in her system or visible injuries.
However, the situation changed when Rebelo attempted to claim the insurance money just three days after her death, raising suspicions among insurance company officials who alerted the police. The investigation revealed the shocking truth about Rebelo's actions, leading to his arrest in November 2022.
During the trial, Piscopo testified about their financial situation, stating that while her career was thriving and she was making significant money as an influencer, Rebelo was struggling to keep up with their expenses. She revealed that he had promised her he would soon bring in $500,000 from cryptocurrency investments, a claim prosecutors argued was part of the facade he created.
Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Rebelo maintained his innocence throughout the trial, claiming he did not know how his mother's life had ended. However, the jury was not swayed by his defense, and the verdict was unanimous.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Fiannaca noted the lasting impact of Rebelo's crime on his family, particularly on his six-year-old son, who would now grow up knowing his father as a prisoner. "You stripped her of her dignity with a final degrading act," the judge said, highlighting the emotional toll of the tragedy on all involved.
Rebelo's father, Antonio, expressed his continued support for his son despite the heinous nature of his crime. "Of course, he’s still my child," he said. "I don’t condone what happened," he added, emphasizing the complexity of familial loyalty in the face of such a grave offense.
The court has set Rebelo's eligibility for parole at 25 years, meaning he will be in his fifties by the time he has the opportunity to seek release. The case has sparked widespread media attention, not only for its shocking details but also for the implications it holds about the pressures of modern life, financial instability, and the lengths to which some may go to escape their circumstances.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event, questions remain about how such a horrific crime could occur within a family. The story of Andre Rebelo serves as a grim reminder of the potential consequences of financial desperation and the dark paths it can lead individuals down.
With the sentencing concluded, the focus now shifts to the long-term impact on the Rebelo family and the community at large, as they seek to understand and heal from the scars left by this unimaginable act.
