A Queensland man accused of assisting his wife take her own life as he was beneficiary of her $1.4 million life insurance told her she was too weak to survive the biblical rapture, a court has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jennifer Morant died on the Gold Coast in 2014 after her husband Graham Robert Morant, 69, allegedly repeatedly told her her suicide would not be a sin in God's eyes because of the financial windfall to his pastor aspirations.
Morant wanted to buy a property in the Gold Coast hinterland with the life insurance money to start a religious commune, Jennifer Morant's sister Lynette Lucas has told a jury.
"He had explained to her that he was going to have a communal environment, with bunkers and extended out-buildings so that when the raptures came, they would have a place of safety," Ms Lucas has testified in Brisbane Supreme Court.
"He was quite adamant he was going ahead with it ... (he said) she'd be doing something good for the church and helping him.
"He did reinforce they (the raptures) were very imminent. They were coming soon and Jenny would not be able to cope with this disaster and it would be better if she weren't around to experience it."
Jennifer was "horrified" by the plans and wanted no part of them, Ms Lucas said.
Morant pleaded not guilty on Monday to aiding in the suicide of Jennifer and counselling her to do so.
He claimed he found a suicide note after coming home one night in November 2014.
The note explained Jennifer didn't want to be a burden on anyone, especially her husband, and it would not be fair on him to care for her "24 hours a day".
"Please believe it is my choice to do this and and there is no one to blame," the note read, said crown prosecutor Michael Lehane.
Morant told police Jennifer suffered "a lot of back pain" and took pain relief medication.
But she was "fearful for her life", Ms Lucas said.
"(I told her) your life's in danger with these (life insurance) policies," she said.
Police found Jennifer, 56, dead in her car with a petrol generator.
Prosecutors allege Morant helped his wife buy the generator and assisted putting it in the boot of her car.
Morant said she tried to kill herself at least twice previously, the prosecution says.
Asked by police if he helped in her suicide, Morant said he didn't and she knew how to take her own life because she watched a lot of the US television show Crime Scene Investigation.
Jennifer was in "intense daily pain", defence barrister Dean Wells said.
"I suggest to you Graham is more innocent than anybody you will hear giving evidence against him," Mr Wells said.
"Truth is stranger than fiction. There are ... more subplots in this particular case than you will ever see in any courtroom drama on television."
The trial continues.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Australian Associated Press
