Young daughters of RAAF mechanic inherit just $50K after his sudden death - while new girlfriend receives $350K
A bitter feud has escalated between the ex-partner, parents and girlfriend of a deceased RAAF mechanic over his $451,500 estate.
Daniel Leverton died suddenly during a surfing trip on the NSW north coast with his father in April 2015 and his ex-partner Angela Watson believed she was the sole executor of his will.
But instead of the majority of the estate going to his young daughters, aged 7 and 9, it went to his girlfriend Kirsty Lewis who said she had a "meaningful relationship" of nine months with Mr Leverton.
Mr Leverton's father Geoff told 7 News Online his son had only recently started his relationship with Ms Lewis.
"It's a travesty of justice," he said. "They were only dating for five months."
But on Wednesday, Ms Lewis' mother, Sharon Farquharson, slammed claims her daughter only dated Mr Leverton for a few months.
"It wasn't a fling - they had been together for years, we knew him, he came to my ex-husband's 60th birthday," she told the Daily Mail.
Not long after his death, Ms Lewis reportedly filed a claim through MilitarySuper and was entitled to just over 350,000 of the 450,000 estate, News Corp reported.
The other $100,000 would be split equally between his daughters, but Ms Watson declined the offer and instead appealed to the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation.
Geoff Leverton said the sum was not "adequate" and believed Mr Leverton's daughters deserved more.
On Wednesday, Ms Lewis' lawyers released a statement saying the Military Super decision was "completely beyond" her control.
“When the Military Super decision was originally handed down, our client made an offer to the mother of Mr Leverton’s children, via her solicitor, to gift a significant sum to the children from the benefit she was due to receive,” the statement said.
“This offer was never accepted by the mother of the children.”
Ms Watson lost her appeal to the CSC's Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme (MSB) Reconsideration Committee.
In a statement to 7 News Online, a spokesperson from the committee said they had determined Ms Lewis was in a "bona fide domestic relationship with him and therefore entitled to benefits from Military Super".
"It determined that Mr Leverton’s former de facto partner, Ms Watson, did not meet the definition of an eligible spouse," it read.
"It also determined that Mr Leverton’s children were entitled to a portion of his Military Super benefit.
"Superannuation death benefits are paid in accordance with the rules of the superannuation scheme. They are not paid in accordance with a person’s will."
"CSC extends its sympathies to Mr Leverton’s children, his extended family, his partner, ex-partner, colleagues and his friends."
