Gertsch case closer to resolution

Almost 17 years after the murder of gay Sydney millionaire Ludwig Gertsch, the coroner investigating his death has recommended charges be laid because evidence suggested a known person was behind the killing.

Handing down her findings from a second inquest into the 1990 murder, deputy state coroner Dorelle Pinch also said there was evidence indicating Gertsch’s wealthy former lover Roger Claude Teyssedre might have been murdered.

Pinch delivered her findings from her inquest into Gertsch’s 1990 murder last Friday. She was also examining the death of Teyssedre.

The evidence before me is capable of satisfying a jury beyond reasonable doubt that a known person has committed an indictable offence and that there is a reasonable prospect that a jury would convict the known person of the indictable offence, Pinch said of the Gertsch case, Australian Associated Press reported.

But Pinch said she could not reveal the identity of the known person as she referred the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The deputy state coroner said Teyssedre might have died after Gertsch deliberately gave him an overdose of medication.

I am satisfied that [Teyssedre] died an unnatural death in suspicious circumstances, Pinch said.

After Teyssedre died in April 1990, Gertsch inherited the bulk of his $2.7 million estate. Gertsch was murdered in October of the same year.

A 1994 inquest found person or persons unknown killed the South American-born millionaire at an Ashfield unit belonging to his then lover Vincent Esposito. No one was ever charged with the murder.

Last week deputy state coroner Pinch said the deaths of Teyssedre and Gertsch might have been linked by Teyssedre’s estate, AAP reported.