Judge blocks payout to carer who ‘guided pen of dying millionaire’
He had “a relatively close relationship” with his brothers, Allen and Stanley Chu, and sister Eva Young, for most of his life.
He had appointed them executors of the will he made in 2008.
Under that, the siblings each got 26 per cent of his estate, while a niece and nephew got 14 per cent and a close friend 7 per cent.
But Mr Chu suffered from Morvans syndrome, a rare auto-immune condition “which caused memory loss and confusion”, the High Court heard.
And in “his final year or so” he could no longer live without assistance.
It was at that stage that Donna Henderson “took control of his life and excluded his siblings from further involvement”, said Judge Nigel Price.
Mr Chu was in hospital two days from death and possibly delirious when the new will was executed. Mrs Henderson had organised the drawing up of the new will giving her and her children 40 per cent and admitted she had held the pensioner’s hand while he signed the document.
A handwriting expert later concluded that the signature on the will was not Mr Chu’s.
Giving his ruling last week, Judge Price commented: “There is a distinction between leading and steadying the hand.” He added: “The medical evidence is compelling… I have no hesitation in reaching…in favour of the 2008 will.”
He told the siblings’ lawyer: “You are entitled to your costs but I’m not sure you are ever going to retrieve them.”
Mrs Henderson did not attend the hearing and was not represented.