A Murwillumbah man accused of murder in 2014 phoned an insurance company, a jury has heard, to check if a $1 million life insurance policy taken out in his father’s name covered deliberate death.
Michael Phillip Martin appeared in Lismore Supreme Court for the second day of the murder trial yesterday over the death of his father Michael Anthony Martin at his unit on June 13.
The 28-year-old is also charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent over an alleged assault of Edward Manning, who was at his father’s flat when their was an unsuccessful attempt on his life on the night of April 6 and 7, 2014.
A 12 person jury has heard Mr Martin had taken out three life insurance policies in his father’s name totalling $2.5 million.
Crown prosecutor Brendan Campbell told the jury Mr Martin posed as his father when he called insurer One Path on February 24, 2014, to enquire whether the policy covered deliberate death or suicide, News Corp reported.
The three life insurance policies, which were all in the name of Michael Anthony Martin, were paid for with Mr Martin junior’s credit card, and his home address was listed as the contact.
When Mr Martin contacted one insurer almost a month after his father’s death, he was told they needed to see a coroner’s report, which he had to ask police for, the court heard.
In early 2015 when police questioned Mr Martin about one life insurance policy in his father’s name, he allegedly told them he had forgotten about it.
But police had already been investigating the circumstances surrounding his father’s murder and asked why there was a second life insurance policy in Mr Martin’s name.
Mr Campbell also told the jury about a letter, seized from Mr Martin’s workplace at Esk, Queensland, in which he wrote to his then wife Candace, where he allegedly mentioned a ‘bright idea’ and ‘carrying through on his plan’.
The prosecution told the jury this letter was an admission of guilt.
When questioned by police about the letter, Mr Martin claimed he was told by a psychologist to write down all of his emotions.
The trial continues today.
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