Legal action for two-year-old's stake in Hutchence fortune
In a dramatic new twist to the Michael Hutchence money saga, the carer of his daughter Tiger Lily is to plead with a Sydney court for the two-year old to have access to the late rock singer's fortune.
The move will be the latest in an extraordinary trail of intrigue surrounding the money left by the INXS frontman, who committed suicide at The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Double Bay 14 months ago.
Australian lawyers acting for Tiger Lily will tomorrow file a Family Provision Act application with the Supreme Court of NSW claiming the child needs cash for proper "maintenance, education and advancement in life."
It will suggest that Hutchence, one of the richest rock stars who split his fortune between a trust for Tiger Lily and an estate to be divided between five of his relatives, had not made adequate provision for his only child.
The legal team will have to detail Tiger Lily's budget. It will then be up to the court to decide how much she needs.
Belinda Brewin, Tiger Lily's godmother and long-time friend of her mother Paula Yates, will make the
application as "next friend" a legal term giving her the status of a guardian. If the application is successful, Ms
Brewin will have sole authority over how any money is spent.
Last night Ms Brewin told The Sun-Herald Tiger Lily had not received "a cent" from her father's fortune so far
because of continuing litigation, and Ms Yates had been forced to take out large loans to keep her family
together.
Hutchence's mother, Patricia Glassop, and his step-sister Tina are challenging the executors of the estate over
assets in Brisbane court proceedings. Last month, a Supreme Court judge allowed his Hong Kong will to
Hutchence left property in Australia, London, and France. But his main fortune is thought to be buried in a series of offshore companies.
Estimates of its worth vary, Hong Kong executor Andrew Paul has been quoted as saying it is worth only $1.2
million, while his relatives maintain that up to $25 million in other assets have been hidden form his will. Tiger's trust is thought to worth $5 million.
"We are trying to protect our position against the litigation" Ms Brewin told The Sun-Herald from London before
boarding a plane for Sydney to commence the proceedings. Unless an application was lodged within 18 months of Hutchence's death, Tiger Lily would lose all rights to a court's protection.
"We don't want to fight the will," Ms Brewin said. "There just hasn't been enough provision for Tiger."
Ms Yates, currently negotiating lucrative contracts for an Australian TV show and commercials as well as a
British documentary series, has been battling to kick-start her career ever since Hutchence's death.
Her grief has led to her attending a clinic for depression.
"Paula had to take out a huge mortgage," said Ms Brewin. "She's going to have to work her fingers to the bone
for Tiger because there is no income whatsoever at the moment from the will."
And of her own position, Ms Brewin maintained: "I've seen that child every day since she was born. I think most
people know that her interest are paramount as far as I am concerned."