The ex-wife of former Billabong boss Matthew Perrin has broken down in court as she described how he confessed to losing their “forever home”.
Perrin used the family’s custom-built property on Cronin Island, Surfers Paradise, as security for $13.5m credit from the Commonwealth Bank.
The former chief executive of the surfwear company allegedly forged the signature of Nicole Bricknell, then his wife, on the mortgage documents.
Perrin called the family together after his investments went wrong and allegedly said: “I’m going to jail, I’ve done a lot of bad things.”
Bricknell said he had previously promised her that the house was in her name and was safe after she discovered he had been having an affair. She initially thought he was going to admit he had been unfaithful again but he replied “it’s much worse than that”.
The trial at the district court in Brisbane had to be halted when Bricknell broke down in tears and began hyperventilating during her evidence.
The couple had designed and built the $15m property together as a “forever home” for them and their three children, Bricknell said.
Perrin has admitted signing his former wife’s name but claims he had her permission to do so. She has insisted to the court she had no idea what he was doing and never gave him authority to sign on her behalf.
Bricknell was a beautician before quitting work to stay at home and look after the couple’s children. She said she looked after the household and her husband dealt with all their finances.
Perrin is also accused of faking his brother’s signature as a witness on the paperwork. Fraser Perrin was shown the documents in court and maintained he had never signed them.
The defendant denies nine charges of forgery and three of fraud in 2008.
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