NASSAU- The mother of murder victim Noel Roach has lost a court battle over his estate.
Ingrid McKinney sued her son’s girlfriend, Nikenya Rolle, for a portion of his estate. Rolle is the mother of Roach’s only child.
Roach was gunned down in Pinewood Gardens on July 16, 2010.
As Roach died without a will, his son is the beneficiary of his estate. Rolle was granted letters of administration on behalf of the minor in 2013 after the court removed a caveat on the estate filed by McKinney.
Roach had named McKinney as the sole beneficiary of his $150,000 insurance policy.
However, he had also assigned $135,000 from the policy to guarantee the mortgage on his triplex in Pinewood Gardens.
After his death, the insurance company paid $135,000 to the bank and paid the remainder to his mother.
As a result, her lawyer, Larell Hanchell, argued that she had an equitable interest in the triplex.
McKinney asked Justice Indra Charles to order the sale of the triplex to recover the insurance money used to satisfy her son’s mortgage.
McKinney also sought a portion of the rental income from the property until it was sold.
Additionally, McKinney wanted the estate to reimburse her $26,000 for funeral expenses.
McKinney claimed that she bought building supplies to help with the construction of the triplex in addition to giving her son $10,000 to help with buying the property on which it was built. She also sought to recover the $10,000.
Rolle filed a counterclaim against McKinney to recover the costs of the caveat, which was filed on March 9, 2012.
Rejected
Justice Charles rejected the argument that McKinney gained an equitable interest in the triplex due to the assignment of the policy.
The judge ruled that the assignment of the $135,000 to the bank “revoked any expectation” of that amount.
Justice Charles said any contributions that McKinney made towards the purchase of the land and the construction of triplex were gifts to her son.
The Court also rejected a claim for reimbursement of funeral expenses.
During the trial, mortician Vaughn Jones testified that the receipt for $26,000 was inflated so McKinney could get a loan.
Justice Charles said, “The evidence clearly suggests that the cost associated with the funeral was somewhere between $13,000 and $16,000, which was paid by funds from the insurance proceeds, NIB and Ms Rolle.”
Justice Charles awarded Rolle $25,000 in legal costs. She also awarded her $1,500 in costs for the removal of the caveat on the estate.
Glenda Roker represented Rolle.
