Killer may be up for inheritance

Monday, 30 May 2011

Jailed killer Greg Meads could be in line to inherit more of his family's multimillion-dollar empire while the family of his victim still waits for compensation.

The prominent Matamata racehorse owner and breeder was sentenced in March to life in prison for shooting his wife Helen in September 2009 inside the couple's stables only days after Mrs Meads announced plans to end their 12-year marriage.

Meads was estimated to be worth $15 million but could be in line for more cash after his father, Howard Meads, died last month.

Howard Meads, 92, died on April 25 at Tauranga Hospital. It is understood he was in poor health and had a stroke the day or soon after a 60 Minutes television report on his son's crime aired on April 20.

Inquiries reveal Greg Meads is still a 74 per cent shareholder in the family business, Willow Park Ltd, with his father having owned 13 per cent of the company and his mother the remainder.

The family has interests in Willow Park Stud and used to own Willow Park Motor Hotel in Tauranga.

At sentencing, Meads was ordered by the court to pay Mrs Meads' two daughters Kimberly, 18, and Samantha, 11, and her parents, David and Pam White, $15,000 each for emotional harm plus an additional $5000 to Mrs Meads' sister, Robin.

But two months after the court ordered Meads to pay, his victim's family is yet to see a cent of the $65,000.

Helen Meads' father, David White, of Matamata, said he did not expect to see any money from Meads.

'To be honest we never really expected to get any money.'

Mr White said Meads had tried to cover the true extent of the family's wealth, which he believed to be $40 million, and avoid paying to support Mrs Meads' children, including his own daughter with her, Samantha.

Mr White and his wife are raising Samantha.