Man Faces Fraud Charges Over Forged Will in Bid for Mother’s Estate

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A 50-year-old man from Kariba, Gregory Graham Hall, appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing allegations of fraud and forgery over the forged will of his late mother in an attempt to claim sole ownership of her estate valued at US$181,000.

Hall, who denied the charges, was accused of altering the will of his mother, Noreece Lesley Hall, who passed away on 3 November 2010 at her home in Greendale, Harare. According to the State, led by Mr Zvikomborero Mupasa, Hall’s late mother owned properties, including flats at Bridgeways and Sutherland Heights in Harare.

The State alleges that Hall forged a will, dated 21 May 2008, falsely claiming it had been signed by his mother, which he then submitted to the Master of the High Court, securing himself as the sole beneficiary of her estate.

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In March 2022, Melanie Jane Hall, the deceased’s daughter, discovered discrepancies upon viewing the will at the office of executor dative Rodgers Matsikidze. Melanie informed Matsikidze that the signature did not match her mother’s and that the handwriting falsely attributing the estate to Gregory was also not hers. Melanie reported the matter to the police, prompting an investigation.

During the investigation, police examined the will alongside samples of Noreece Lesley Hall’s signatures verified by a Questioned Document Expert. The analysis revealed the signature and handwriting had been falsified. Furthermore, two witnesses who had signed the will confessed they had not seen Noreece Lesley Hall but were convinced by Gregory to sign the document.

The investigation established that Gregory Hall had illegally benefited from the estate, including US$111,029.25 from the sale of 28 Bridgeway Mews, Avondale, Harare, and a 2.4% share valued at US$70,000 for *lstand No. 1667, Salisbury Township.

In her ruling, Regional Magistrate Mrs Sandra Mupindu is expected to deliberate whether Gregory Graham Hall’s actions amount to criminality under the provisions of fraud and forgery laws.

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