by: Margaret SCHEIKOWSKI
Michael Hutchence's two year old daughter Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily went to court yesterday to seek access to her late father's fortune. The toddler is claiming the money for her education, living expenses and advancement in life, according to documents lodged on her behalf in the NSW Supreme Court.
Hutchence's will gives half of his wealth to Tiger Lily and shares to his mother, father, brother, sister, and his lover and Tiger Lily's mother, Paula Yates. But the little girls carers claim she has not received a cent.
Through her godmother Belinda Brewin, Tiger Lily is asking for an unspecified lump sum, plus interest, from the estate, as well as legal costs.
Ms Yates has sworn an affidavit saying she accepts Ms Brewin acting as "tutor" for her daughter in the application. It is the latest in a number of legal wrangles that have followed the INXS singer's death at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Double Bay 14 months ago.
A coroner found he committed suicide because he was depressed over a child custody battle between Ms Yates and her former husband Sir Bob Geldof. Officially, Hutchence died almost pennilessbut millions of dollars worth of property shares, bank accounts and income from his music is believed to be held in trust in tax havens stretching from Hong Kong to the Virgin Islands.
Hutchence's mother and sister have launched action over the ownership of the assets against the estate's Hong Kong based executor Andrew Morrison Paul, the subject of yesterday's application by Tiger Lily.
Lawyers for Mr Paul claim Hutchence had $1.8 million in assets when he died, but family members claim as much as $25 million is hidden in trusts and shell companies.
Ms Brewin said recently she didn't want to contest the will; she only wanted to get access to an income for Tiger Lily.
She said Ms Yates had taken out a large mortgage to help meet her daughter's expenses. The move comes as Yates, a British television personality who has fallen out with Hutchence's family since his death, battles to kick start her career.
She is reportedly negotiating a contract for an Australian TV show as well as a British documentary series.