A Perth Tragedy
Twenty-nine-year-old Andre Rebelo is going to prison for at least 25 years. The reason? He murdered his own mother, Colleen, in May 2020. It was cold-blooded, calculated, and frankly, horrifying. The Western Australian Supreme Court called it a "monstrous act," the ultimate betrayal. It all came down to money – a million-dollar life insurance policy, and a desperate attempt to keep up appearances.
A Web of Lies
Justice Bruno Fiannaca laid out Rebelo's plan in chilling detail. It was elaborate, but also incredibly amateurish. He killed his mother, staged the scene to look like an accident in the shower, and then proceeded to forge a whole bunch of documents – a will, a coroner's report, even medical records! All to get his hands on that insurance money. The judge painted a picture of a man drowning in debt – over $100,000 in the red – fueled by the lavish lifestyle he and his influencer girlfriend, Grace Piscopo, were desperately trying to maintain.
Living the High Life (On Borrowed Time)
Their social media presence was all carefully curated luxury: fancy holidays, designer clothes, the works. But behind the glamorous facade was a mountain of debt. Justice Fiannaca pointed out that this debt, alongside pressure to keep up with Piscopo’s spending and a failed cryptocurrency venture, seemed to have pushed Rebelo over the edge. The judge didn’t mince words: he didn’t believe a single thing Rebelo said. He described him as deceitful and completely unreliable.
The Heartbreak for the Family
The sentencing hearing was devastating. Rebelo's twin sister, Monique, delivered a victim impact statement that left everyone heartbroken. She spoke about their mother, Colleen – a devoted and loving woman – and the immense void her death has left in their lives. Their father, Antonio, was there too. He said he supported his son, but even he admitted to being completely baffled by what happened. He honestly wasn't sure he could trust the jury's verdict.
Imagine the horror of finding your mother murdered in your family home – the desecration, the sheer violation. The judge certainly did, emphasizing the shocking nature of the crime.
A Life Sentence, A Shattered Family
Rebelo got a life sentence, with a minimum of 25 years before he's even eligible for parole. He also got a separate 13.5-year sentence for the fraud, but that’ll run alongside his life sentence. This whole case is just... heartbreaking. It’s a stark reminder of what happens when greed takes over, and the devastating consequences of something as horrific as matricide. Poor little six-year-old son will grow up without his mother and with his father locked away. It's a tragedy on so many levels.
