Andre Rebelo murder trial: Social media influencer Gracie Piscopo takes the stand in defence of ex-partner

The Andre Rebelo murder trial took a surprising twist on Monday after the crypto-trader’s ex-girlfriend – social media star Gracie Piscopo — was called to give evidence in his defence. The influencer and model — who shares a son with the 28-year-old — has been notably absent from proceedings but in a shock development, took the stand at the Supreme Court murder trial in the afternoon to testify. Mr Rebelo is accused of killing his mother Colleen in May 2020 before fraudulently trying to claim $500,000 from one of three life insurance policies he had taken out in the week before her death. Before the trial began, he admitted he forged his mother’s will, two medical certificates and a Coroner’s report to try and get the insurance firm to pay out. But he denies he murdered his mother. Prosecutors claim one of the reasons why Mr Rebelo took out $1.15 million in life insurance policies against his mother then killed her was because he and Ms Piscopo were heavily in debt. The trial has previously been told the pair owed more than $100,000. It was also revealed during the trial Mr Rebelo had debts totalling more than $40,000, collection agencies on his case, had late payments on rent and the Range Rover. Ms Piscopo has over one million followers on Instagram, and more than 250,000 on YouTube with the former couple’s lives extensively documented on the social media channels. The court was told her earnings had risen to six figures between 2018 and 2020. Mr Rebelo was earning a fraction of that, with much of it coming as a fee for assisting Ms Piscopo. He also became the full-time carer for their young son. And regular investments in cryptocurrency were coming from borrowed money, via a credit card and a personal loan. During his testimony last week Mr Rebelo agreed his former partner could be demanding adding it was a “strained relationship — but mostly good”. But he denied he felt like he was being treated like a slave, that he was subservient and that she was putting pressure on him to contribute more financially. More to come.