The mother-in-law of artist Melissa Beowulf complained her son had taken advantage of her to gain control over her money in the months before she was allegedly murdered, the ACT Supreme Court has heard.
The trial of Ms Beowulf, 61, and her two eldest sons Thorsten, 32, and Bjorn, 31, centres on whether their family's matriarch Katherine Panin fell down their house's backyard stairs or was murdered in October 2015.
Prosecutors alleged money was a motivator for the killing, claiming Mrs Panin had made plans to change her will on the day she died.
The trial on Monday heard from Mrs Panin's doctor, who told of an exchange months before Mrs Panin's death, in which she said she had no feelings towards her son Thorhammer.
"She said he took advantage of her, he took her money and she had no feeling for him at all," the doctor said.
Mrs Panin made the comments shortly after Mr Bewoulf's death from pancreatic cancer in August 2015.
When the doctor said Melissa Beowulf appeared very sympathetic, Mrs Panin was scathing.
"She puts on a good act, but is two-faced," Mrs Panin allegedly told the doctor.
The trial has also revealed the family's unconventional arrangements.
Before his death Mr Beowulf had lived with Melissa Beowulf and their fours sons, along with another woman with whom he had a child, Dianne McGowan.
Dr McGowan told the court about an incident where Ms Beowulf had sworn and gestured aggressively at Mrs Panin.
She told the court the relationship between Mrs Panin and her family was difficult, saying her son had swung between tolerance and intolerance when it came to his mother.
Dr McGowan related one incident when Mr Beowulf was dying, in which he had asked her to be meaner to his mother, a sentiment she said was echoed by Ms Beowulf.
Dr McGowan said Mrs Panin confided in her later about changing her will, saying she was planning to spread the money to each member of the family, rather than leave everything to Ms Beowulf.
Editor's note 25/8/2020: This article is a historical report of court proceedings. At the conclusion of their trial, Melissa, Bjorn and Thorsten Beowulf were found not guilty of joint commission of murder.
