The ‘confused’ husband of fraudster Melissa Caddick has burst into tears while being questioned over an inconsistency about his wife’s disappearance – as tensions hit breaking point as a frustrated lawyer asks if he is capable of reading.
Anthony Koletti returned to the witness box on Wednesday at the NSW Coroners Court inquest into his wife’s disappearance and suspected death.
Award-winning journalist Kate McClymont, who investigated Ms Caddick’s disappearance in her podcast Liar Liar, said Mr Koletti appeared to have started crying after finding it increasingly difficult to follow proceedings.
Tensions hit breaking point when Jason Downing SC, counsel assisting Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan, asked Mr Koletti if he was capable of reading.
‘Mr Koletti, you can read, can’t you?’ Mr Downing asked to which Ms Caddick’s husband replied: ‘I am so confused by your questions’.
Anthony Koletti has burst into tears while being questioned over an inconsistency about his wife Melissa Caddick’s disappearance (pictured, the couple in happier times)
McClymont tweeted that Mr Koletti appeared to be crying after questioning and had been asked by a lawyer assisting the coroner if he is capable of reading
In a series of live tweets from inside court, McClymont said a 15-minute break had been called to allow Mr Koletti to compose himself and ‘collect his thoughts’.
‘The coroner said the questions were legitimate but it had to be determined if he’s mentally unable to continue because of distress,’ she tweeted.
Just after 1pm, the coroner announced Mr Koletti would be dismissed from giving evidence, telling him: ‘If you are unable to focus on the questions and give truthful answers that is not going to assist me’.
He had previously told Mr Downing on the morning of her disappearance on November 12, 2020, he assumed Ms Caddick had gone out to do some exercise.
‘I didn’t think anything of it … she’s just gone for a walk which she does every day not a problem,’ he told police in an interview.
In evidence Mr Koletti agreed that his wife had no habits, her exercise regime was irregular and she mostly jogged on the treadmill by that stage.
Tensions had hit breaking point when Jason Downing SC, counsel assisting Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan, asked Mr Koletti (pictured) if he was capable of reading
Mr Koletti has recalled the moment he and Ms Caddick (pictured) fell in love at a secret meeting and struck up an ‘intimate friendship’ while she was still married
Mr Downing continued questioning Mr Koletti on Wednesday about this inconsistency asking if he was now trying to justify his answers.
‘One of the accounts must not be true,’ Mr Downing said.
‘I’m guessing so, yes,’ Mr Koletti said.
‘Why are you guessing?’ Mr Downing said.
‘Because your questions are confusing, the way you talk is not the way my mind works,’ Mr Koletti said.
‘Everyone has got a different mind you’ve got to understand that. I don’t think you do. I’ve been through a lot in case you haven’t noticed.’
Mr Koletti was taken to his statement but the confusion continued.
‘You can read, can’t you?’ Mr Downing said.
‘I am so confused by your questions,’ Mr Koletti responded.
Just after 1pm on Wednesday, the coroner announced Mr Koletti (pictured on Tuesday would be dismissed from giving evidence after he became ‘confused’ and ‘distressed’
Questions then turned to where her phone was found, by whom, and when. Mr Koletti had told police a different version to his evidence in court.
‘You’re just going around in circles like you were before,’ Mr Koletti said.
‘I can’t answer these questions over and over again.’
His lawyer Judy Swan then interjected saying her client was finding the process distressing, but wanted ‘it over’.
He’s trying to answer to the best of his knowledge but he’s obviously struggling with the nuances,’ Ms Swan said. ‘I don’t know if it’s a mental disconnect or general disconnect. He’s distressed and has been for a while.’
Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan said counsel’s questions were legitimate and it was her duty to determine if Ms Caddick is alive, and if not, the manner and cause of her death.
She asked whether Mr Koletti was mentally unable to continue, otherwise there was an expectation he would continue to provide answers to questions.
Mr Downing said he understood Mr Koletti’s desire to complete the process but his evidence would not assist the inquest if he was too distressed.
The inquest is due to continue with evidence from an oceanographer.
Mr Koletti on Tuesday said he had always been truthful but admitted there may have been moments when his ‘wires were crossed’ due to his concern and worry.
He maintains he had no inkling his wife was defrauding family and friends of millions of dollars, nor did he ask her why federal police or members of ASIC was suddenly searching their Sydney eastern suburbs home.
It was the last verified sighting of Ms Caddick before she vanished without a trace.
Anthony Koletti stuck a post-in note (pictured) on his wife’s phone next to an early Christmas present on the morning she vanished on November 12, 2020
Melissa Caddick’s husband said he sent her several text messages (pictured) on the morning she vanished before discovering she’d left her phone in their walk-in closet
The revelations come after the inquest was shown a romantic post-it note and frantic text messages Mr Koletti sent Ms Caddick on the morning she vanished.
Mr Koletti sent his wife several texts, when she had not returned home by 7.16am.
‘U ok?’ one asked. He then asked if she had her house key before he found her phone still charging in their walk-in closet.
Mr Koletti said he stuck a bright pink post-it note on her phone, along with a pair of earrings as a surprise gift.
‘Melissa I no (sic) our love is deeper than possessions (sic),’ he wrote.
‘Thought you may like one of your Christmas (sic) early. All my love.’
Melissa Caddick’s former Dover Heights home (pictured) is currently on the market. It required extensive repairs, cleaning and maintenance after Ms Caddick’s husband was evicted
In February 2021 Ms Caddick’s decomposing foot encased in an Asics shoe washed ashore at Bournda Beach on the NSW south coast, about 400km south of Sydney.
She preyed on mostly friends and family, and stole up to $30million between 2013 and 2020, counsel assisting Jason Downing SC earlier told the court.
The inquest before Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan continues.