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Fraudster's severed foot gets inquest off to dramatic start

The mysterious detached foot of Sydney fraudster Melissa Caddick has been a key focus on the opening morning of an inquest into her suspected death.

In February last year, three months after she vanished, an Asics running shoe containing Caddick's foot was found washed up at Bournda Beach on the NSW south coast.

The unusual discovery, 400km south from her multi-million-dollar mansion in Sydney's Dover Heights, prompted some to speculate that Caddick, 49, had faked her own death by amputating her foot and fled the country.

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Tweeting live from the hearing, Sydney Morning Herald investigative reporter Kate McClymont said a forensic pathologist will say at the inquest they are unable to explain how Caddick's foot got detached from her body.

"It may well be that the Coroner returns an open finding into her presumed death," McClymont speculated.

The veteran reporter co-hosted the Liar Liar podcast with 60 Minutes' Tom Steinfort, as they investigated the fraudster's 2020 disappearance.

Jason Downing SC, counsel assisting Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan, said in his opening address that Caddick was suspected to be dead.

A forensic pathologist is expected to say they could not determine if her decomposed foot was separated because of blunt force or decomposition before it washed ashore.

https://twitter.com/Kate_McClymont/status/1569129875474382849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

With the right medical assistance an amputation is not considered a lethal injury, Downing said, but on the balance of probabilities it was suspected that Caddick had already died.

Caddick's parents Barbara and Ted Grimley and brother Adam Grimley along with her husband Anthony Koletti arrived this morning at the NSW coroners court.

It is believed about 74 victims lost at least $23 million through Caddick's Ponzi scheme, over which she was set to face a string of charges.

Those scammed believed Caddick would invest their funds on their behalf.

She created fake documents to suggest she had done so, but instead used the money to fund her own lavish lifestyle.

Caddick disappeared just hours after her home was raided by investigators from the corporate watchdog ASIC.

Koletti told police his wife left for a walk early the following morning, but did not report her missing until about 28 hours later.

https://twitter.com/Kate_McClymont/status/1569197725849391104

This delay will also be subject to scrutiny during her inquest.

Attending officers said he provided several different versions "which were confusing and didn't make sense".

One police officer found Koletti on November 13 in a "composed, relaxed and seemingly uncaring persona … unlike any other person I had taken a missing person report from previously".

At the time this constable believed Koletti was "somehow involved in Ms Caddick's disappearance".

After initially trying to hold on to $30 million in assets, Koletti dropped his claim for the couple's jewellery, artworks, a Gucci wedding dress, the proceeds of the sale of their luxury cars and $7 million in shares.

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Melissa Caddick dress $400,000 son's school fundraiser Anthony Koletti

Caddick's parents are fighting to remain in an Edgecliff property they reside in.

The Grimleys claim they were also scammed by their daughter, and that they had negotiated the right to live in the property rent-free until they died.

Caddick's mother said her daughter was not offered food or drink during the full duration of the search warrant and holds ASIC responsible for her suspected death, the inquest was told.

Whether Caddick knew about the ASIC investigation will also be scrutinised, as she booked shredding services in September 2020, three months before she vanished.

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In late 2012 Caddick's marriage to Tony Caddick dissolved following her affair with Koletti who was her hairdresser.

She purportedly told her brother Adam about this time: "If it all gets too much to me you'll find me at The Gap".

Another friend said Caddick made her write down a four-letter code she was instructed to give Adam if she went missing.

By late 2020 her friends say Caddick was under extreme financial pressure and on one occasion walked to the Dover Heights cliffs.

"If I'm going to end it, it's going to be here," her friend recalls Caddick telling her.

The inquest continues.

With AAP

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