Robert Webb, 54, faked the will of Robyn Mercer, 52, in a bid to get his hands on her estate after she was murdered last year
The partner of a respected antiques dealer bludgeoned to death on her own doorstep forged her signature to get his hands on her £850,000 home.
Robert Webb, 54, faked the will of Robyn Mercer, 52, in a bid to get his hands on her estate after she was murdered last year.
Ms Mercer’s body was discovered the driveway of her home in West Molesey, Surrey, in the morning of March 14 2016.
Former BT engineer Webb was originally arrested last March on suspicion of murder but was later released without charge — and is no longer considered a suspect.
It is believed the mother-of-two was attacked with an axe or machete from behind as she took her bins out before being bludgeoned as she lay on the ground.
No-one has been charged with the murder in Surrey’s stockbroker belt and the investigation continues.
In September last year Webb told police he had found the will inside a book and had it witnessed by his brother and friend before sending it to his solicitors.
However it was found Ms Mercer’s signature on the will was not genuine.
Today Kingston Crown Court heard Webb had pleaded guilty to the single charge of using a false instrument with intent it be accepted as genuine.
Noone has been charged with Ms Mercer’s death in Surrey’s stockbroker belt and the investigation continues. Right: Robert Webb arrives at Kingston Crown Court today
It is believed the mother-of-two was attacked with an axe or machete from behind as she took her bins out before being bludgeoned as she lay on the ground
Ms Mercer, a south African mother of two who was a keen rower, worked for silver specialists J.H. Bourdon-Smith for the last 25 years. Pictured right is the house she owned a 65 percent stake in with Robert Web
Prosecutor Lee Harris, said: ‘The defendants partner, or ex-partner, had been murdered on her driveway, not by this defendant of course.
‘Some time after his house had been searched, Mr Webb emailed the police officer saying he had found the will and sends it on to a solicitors.
‘It turns out that will was not genuine and not been genuinely signed by the deceased.
MAN ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF KILLING ANTIQUES DEALER REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION
Police and forensic officers at the scene where Robyn Mercer was found dead on the driveway of her home in March 2015
Detectives investigating the death of Robyn Mercer said their mission to bring those to justice have ‘intensified’.
Webb was originally arrested last March on suspicion of murder but was later released without charge — and is no longer considered a suspect.
His guilty plea for forging her will today comes after police last month arrested a man on suspicion of the 50-year-old’s murder.
The suspect was detained on August 10 and was released under investigation.
Detective Chief Inspector Paddy Mayers told MailOnline: ‘A full police investigation into Robyn’s murder is ongoing and the pace of our enquiries has recently intensified.
‘The team is committed to getting justice for Robyn and her family and will leave no stone unturned in doing so.’
A further two men — both aged 26 and from West Molesey in Surrey — were both also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle and murder.
One of the 26-year-olds was also held on conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
They both remain under investigation.
‘He said he found it in the leaves of a book and it had her signature on it already, and he then asked it to be witnessed by two of his friends who believed they were witnessing his genuine will.
‘The prosecution does not agree that the will was found in the leaves of a book and that the signature was the genuine signature of the deceased.’
He added: ‘A handwriting expert was asked to look at the will, who said there was very strong support for the proposition it was not her handwriting.’
Webb claimed the two witnesses, one of which was his brother, had seen the whole document.
The couple’s house was valued at £420,00 in 2007 but had risen to £850,000 by the time of the murder, where they had split but were still living together
Police and forensic teams at the scene where Robyn Mercer, 50, was found dead on the driveway of her home in West Molesey, Surrey
However in a statement they said they could only see the signatures, as the top half of the document had been covered by a box.
The prosecution said the two witnesses statements have now been accepted.
Webb met Ms Mercer in 2003 and the pair had moved in together two years later, buying the house in West Molesey, Surrey.
Robert Webb (pictured), faked the will of Robyn Mercer, 52, in a bid to get his hands on her estate after she was murdered last year
However in a statement they said they could only see the signatures, as the top half of the document had been covered by a box
Webb met Ms Mercer in 2003 and the pair had moved in together two years later, buying the house in West Molesey, Surrey
It was valued at £420,00 in 2007 but had risen to £850,000 by the time of the murder, where they had split but were still living together. She had a 65 per cent share in it with Webb owning the remaining 35 per cent.
Ms Mercer, a south African mother of two who was a keen rower, worked for silver specialists J.H. Bourdon-Smith for the last 25 years.
Lyall Thompson defending said: ‘There was no intention to have the will effective.
‘It was intended to flush out the genuine will which he believed was in the possession of other family members.’
Judge Recorder David Brock adjourned sentencing for a full probation report to be carried out before sending on October 4.
However the court heard this was not accepted by the Crown.
Judge Recorder David Brock adjourned sentencing for a full probation report to be carried out before sending on October 4.
Addressing the defendant he said: ‘I make no promises, it is an all options report for the judge on that day.’
Webb, of West Molesey, was bailed until sentencing