Coroner condemns catfisher over Sydney woman Renae Marsden's suicide
A coroner has delivered a scathing assessment of a jealous friend who catfished Sydney woman Renae Marsden, finding she lied repeatedly to an inquest.
The coroner Elaine Truscott said Camila Zeidan created the fake persona “Brayden Spiteri” to coerce and control Marsden between late 2011 and August 2013.
Twenty-year-old Marsden – described by family as fun-loving, bubbly and honest – took her own life at Watsons Bay on 5 August 2013, after believing her relationship with “Brayden” had broken down.
Since the death, Zeidan had lied to Marsden’s family, police and the inquest, where she falsely claimed the fake boyfriend was created by both women as a cover for their lesbian relationship, the coroner found.
Zeidan was unable to admit to her “appalling conduct” and “extreme betrayal of the trust of her friend”, Trus
cott said.
“Camila appeared completely unaffected from the beginning to the end of her evidence about the impact her lies had,” the coroner said on Wednesday.
“She showed no warmth, no concern and no regard to any process of the inquest other than to further her own fiction.
“Her evidence can only be described as disingenuous, at best, and ultimately nothing but a pack of lies.”
The Marsden family has campaigned for law reform to specifically address catfishing, but Truscott said further examination of the issue was required.
She recommended Marsden’s case be used as part of the justice department’s review of non-physical family violence.
Marsden’s mother said a “Renae’s law” could help other families.
“Renae hasn’t died in vain, I’ll make sure of that,” Teresa Marsden said outside court.
“We can’t allow this to happen to any other kid. We have to protect other victims. Renae truly believed Brayden was real.”
Exactly how the relationship broke down on the day of her death remains unclear, despite phone records showing a flurry of messages between Marsden and “Brayden”.
Zeidan “deliberately and selectively” deleted numerous texts and denied knowledge of other key details, Truscott said.
Marsden planned to marry “Brayden”, who she believed was about to get out of prison having been jailed over the death of his friend in a motorcycle crash and a minor assault.
Such motives were clear in her query to the Greek government about whether criminal convictions would hamper getting a visa for their honeymoon, Truscott noted.
Truscott found Marsden never discovered Brayden’s true identity – her jealous friend Zeidan who had long desired an intimate relationship with Marsden.
At one stage, “Brayden” suggested Marsden have sex with Zeidan “to get her anger out”, eliciting the response “NO” and a comment about there being “no point” if it wasn’t with a guy.
“These communications indicate Renae was very much of the view that Brayden was not only real but certainly not Camila,” Truscott said.
The evidence demonstrated Zeidan’s catfishing freed her of the jealousy and possessiveness she felt whenever Marsden was in a relationship with a man.
“Camila was unable to tolerate Renae having an intimate relationship [and] ... complained to Renae she did not like being ‘second-best’,” Truscott said.
Marsden and “Brayden” engaged in phone sex at times, with the young woman complaining when she sent intimate pictures and videos they were not reciprocated.
Her attachment to “Brayden” led her to break off her engagement to another man in early 2013.
“Brayden” also repeatedly counselled her against breaking off contact with Zaiden, who Marsden had said was sometimes verbally or physically abusive.
Truscott said it was unclear whether catfishing like that experienced by Marsden would be covered by current laws against using mobile networks to menace, harass or offend.
The coroner found Zaiden had not incited Marsden to suicide but had “caused the hurt and heartbreak” that “led her to take her own life”.
• Crisis support services can be reached 24 hours a day: Lifeline 13 11 14; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636