Melissa Caddick’s brother storms out of court during inquest into her disappearance

Melissa Caddick’s brother has sensationally stormed out of court after he was scolded for ‘pulling faces’ during an inquest into her disappearance and suspected death. 

Adam Grimley had been sitting in the back of the NSW Coroner’s Court on Friday while Ms Caddick’s husband Anthony Koletti gave evidence during the coronial inquest.

Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan interrupted proceedings to warn Mr Grimley over ‘dramatic and distracting’ facial expressions he was making during questions from counsel for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

‘And if you are unable to restrain yourself, I will ask you to view the proceedings in the adjoining court,’ she said, before Mr Grimley stormed out of the room. 

Later Mr Koletti’s lawyer Judy Swan was also asked to ‘please control your facial expressions as well’.

Brother of conwoman Melissa Caddick, Adam Grimley (pictured) stormed out of a coronial inquest into the disappearance and presumed death of his sister after the coroner warned him to restrain his ‘dramatic and distracting’ facial expressions

Ms Caddick was last seen leaving her Dover Heights mansion in November in 2020, just hours after ASIC and the AFP raided her home.

Her husband has told the inquest he now accepts his wife was a fraudster but still holds the corporate watchdog ASIC responsible for her suspected death due to their ‘cruelty’.

Mr Koletti was taken to a statement he wrote to the court on July 2021 about the ASIC search warrant conducted at the couple’s Sydney mansion on November 11, 2020.

‘I believe she died as a direct result of ASIC’s negligence, cruelty and inhumanity,’ Mr Koletti wrote.

‘Is that something you still say on your oath today?’ Dean Jordan SC on behalf of ASIC asked.

‘Yes,’ Mr Koletti said.

‘I suggest your maintenance of that assertion demonstrates your complete loss of objective perspective in relation to ASIC,’ Mr Jordan, said, adding it also showed he had ‘completely lost the plot’.

‘No,’ Mr Koletti said.

However, he did accept the search warrant was justified at the time.

Melissa Caddick’s husband Anthony Koletti (right) told the inquest he accepts his wife was a fraudster but still holds the corporate watchdog responsible for her suspected death due to their ‘cruelty’

For years Mr Koletti believed his wife was a ‘straight shooter,’ a competent and highly organised financial adviser.

But he now accepted the fact she was pretending to be honest and diligent while stealing millions from her family and friends.

‘You now accept you too were deceived by Ms Caddick?’ Mr Jordan said.

‘Yes,’ Mr Koletti said.

‘How did you eventually come to understand Ms Caddick was a fraudster?’ Mr Jordan asked.

For years Mr Koletti believed his wife was a ‘straight shooter,’ a competent and highly organised financial adviser, the inquest heard

‘By paying attention to the court proceedings and listening to Her Honour,’ Mr Koletti said.

He also wrote in a statement that he and Ms Caddick were denied food, water and medical attention they ‘desperately needed for 14 hours during the search’.

Mr Koletti in the past has targeted ASIC’s lead investigator Isabella Allen and on Friday said he found her conduct ‘cold-hearted, abrupt and uncaring’.

‘Consider this, my client, at all times acted in a professional and perhaps distant manner towards both you and Melissa,’ Ms Allen’s lawyer John Sutton said.

‘OK I accept that,’ Mr Koletti said.

Mr Koletti maintains he had no inkling his wife was defrauding family and friends of millions of dollars, nor did he ask her why federal police and ASIC were suddenly searching their Dover Heights home.

It was the last verified sighting of Ms Caddick before she vanished without a trace the following morning on November 12.

Mr Koletti maintains he had no inkling his wife was defrauding family and friends of millions of dollars (pictured, Mr Koletti departing Lidcombe Coroners Court, Sydney on Wednesday)

Ms Caddick’s Ponzi scheme victims, mostly family and friends, lost $20-$30 million she used to fund her lavish lifestyle

In February 2021 her decomposing foot encased in a shoe washed ashore at Bournda Beach on the NSW south coast.

Expert evidence has found Ms Caddick suffered from narcissistic personality disorder, and the shame and humiliation suffered from being exposed could have caused such intense psychological distress, and potentially suicide.

The inquest continues.

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636