Walking away from his apartment in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Anthony Koletti seemed to be a downcast figure.
In a scene eerily similar to his wife Melissa Caddick’s suspected final hours, he was spotted walking past the nearby cliffsides before relaxing in a local pool.
In a further twist, Anthony appeared to wear the same Asics shoe that made national headlines when Melissa’s severed foot washed up on a beach, 400 kilometres away from the $9.8 million home they shared in Dover Heights.
He remains a devoted stepfather to Melissa’s teenage son, with the pair now living in a small two-bedroom apartment in Vaucluse, just two kilometres away from where Melissa vanished in November 2020 after her $23 million Ponzi scheme was discovered by authorities. She was declared dead by a coronial inquest in May 2023.
LEGAL DEBTS
It’s been a rough three months for the hairdresser, after he abandoned his multimillion-dollar claim on his wife’s estate and is reportedly facing “considerable legal costs”.
In November, a Federal Court judge also ordered receivers to seize millions of dollars in items that were purchased by Melissa.
Anthony, who is in his early 40s, previously claimed he was entitled to a large portion of Melissa’s proceeds of crime, including $7 million in shares, $2 million worth of jewellery, artworks and two properties, which he claimed were valued at $20 million.
He’s previously voiced his frustration at the “toyboy” headlines, which claimed he had benefited from Melissa’s funds – something he has always furiously denied.
“I’ve always paid for myself,” he told 7News Spotlight. “It’s not like I was a desperate Double Bay housewife living off my wife, which is what everyone else thinks. Why wouldn’t I be entitled to something?”
Anthony says it’s an “honour” to continue looking after his stepson, who recently graduated from Year 12.
“I’ve tried to shelter him as much as I can from everything,” he said. “He told me he just wanted his life to stay the same, and that’s what I’ve done for him.”
LOOKING FORWARD
It’s been a gruelling three years of court cases, heartache and upheaval for the pair, but as the courts wrap up their investigation into Melissa’s estate, a new chapter could be just what the doctor ordered.
“It’s a fresh start and no one can take this away from us now,” Anthony said. “I think I’ve paid the ultimate price.”
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