Warning: This article contains details about suicide which may be upsetting for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.
In this case, the Supreme Court of Queensland assessed an arson defence without clear proof of how the fire started, placing weight on the insured’s financial position, pre‑loss actions and post‑event behaviour when considered together.
In issue
- Proof of civil fraud relying on circumstantial evidence and the role of motive in insurance cases where arson is raised as an exclusion to policy response.
The background
Mr Richardson was the directing mind of PBR Properties Limited (PBR) and its sibling company, Project Gas Services Pty Limited (PGS). PBR owned a luxury property, 'Wirraway', valued at approximately $10M, purchased and extensively renovated with funds sourced by inter-company loans exceeding $14M from PGS. Wirraway was mortgaged to NAB to secure $8M of a $10,879,734 facility advanced by NAB to PGS. PGS also carried significant unsecured debt,
