Widower denies pushing McCullough to change will

THE widower of Australian author Colleen McCullough has denied intimidating his late wife to leave him money in her will and says she was “unwell in the head”.

The novelist’s estate is at the centre of a bitter legal battle with Ric Robinson (pictured), who is accused of unduly influencing her to bequeath him everything 12 days before her death in 2015.

“Your wife feared you,” barrister Kim Morrissey said in the NSW Supreme Court yesterday.

“Never ... I have never threatened her or hurt her,” Mr Robinson replied. The widower is fighting Dr McCullough’s executor and friend, Selwa Anthony, who claims the University of Oklahoma Foundation is the rightful beneficiary of the best-selling author’s estate as per a July 2014 will. Ms Anthony claims Mr Robinson took advantage of his wife’s ill health and isolation to domi- nate and pressure her in the lead-up to her death on Norfolk Island on January 29, 2015.

Mr Robinson maintained he told Dr McCullough he was having an affair when she returned to the island in 2010.

The 65-year-old retiree disputed an email sent by Dr McCullough to a friend in mid-2014 stating she was surprised to discover his affair.

About that time, Mr Robinson, who was “totally dependent” on his wife for an income, was denied access to certain bank accounts and cut out of the will, Mr Morrissey said.

The hearing continues.