Duncan Davidson
When Duncan Davidson died in Waikato Hospital in January 2008, his family didn’t even know he was ill. Michelle Williams, who was his power of attorney and official next of kin, rang family just before his life support was to be turned off. Nursing staff were under the impression Davidson had no immediate family.
In fact Davidson, 79, had two children, several grandchildren, siblings and an estranged wife. The family was further stunned at the funeral when Williams announced she was executor of the estate and handed out copies of the will.
The will had been changed three months earlier and Williams had been left the entire contents of Davidson’s house and property – right down to the garden shed – as well as shares and bonds. Family say it would have come to tens of thousands of dollars.
Davidson also stipulated that Williams could live in the house rentfree for two years, with all outgoings covered by his estate.
Tragically, Rhoda Davidson, who had left her husband because of his involvement with Williams, caught a cold at the burial, and died two weeks later of pneumonia.
Williams had become involved with the Davidsons several years earlier when she moved in next door in May St, Tokoroa. Although they had been married for 54 years, Duncan and Rhoda were living in separate parts of the house. Davidson, a carpenter, began doing work for free on Williams’ properties, and she eventually moved in with him.
She described herself as his caregiver, cooking meals for him, but his family say he was perfectly capable of looking after himself.
Davidson’s death certificate says he died of a perforated gall bladder, septicaemia and organ failure. His family say he would have been in agony.
Williams claimed Davidson’s will gave her an entitlement to his property, and she lodged a claim for it. ‘‘She was telling everyone she was getting the house when he died,’’ a relative says.
But the family contested that aspect of the will and Williams was eventually forced to move out. She was often seen driving around Tokoroa in Davidson’s utility vehicle.
Williams later unveiled a headstone on Davidson’s grave. It didn’t mention any family members, but her initials – MDW – were engraved in the bottom left-hand corner.