Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/652704
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 13 MARCH 2016 8 MATTHEW AGIUS THE exasperation in the voice of Mabel Strickland's universal heir was palpable as he described the subtle intimidation with which he claims the foundation Ms Strickland herself had set up, was using in its attempts to evict him. Robert and Deirdre Hornyold- Strickland testified on Friday before Mr Justice Silvio Meli, as the case filed against the Strickland Foun- dation over the ownership of Villa Parisio plods ponderously on. Deirdre Hornyold-Strickland in- sisted that the villa was her home, but that the property belonged to the foundation. The Strickland Foundation, owners of Allied News- papers, could easily transfer its seat to anywhere in Malta, she explained, and she had filed the case after al- legedly suffering "years of constant harassment" at its hands. The great nephew of the late Miss Strickland, erstwhile newspa- per owner and politician, Robert Hornyold-Strickland detailed other instances of subtle and not-so- subtle intimidation. On one occa- sion, his wife found Foundation of- ficials removing furniture from the drawing room, he claimed, and the couple's privacy has been invaded by the Foundation's installation of CCTV cameras both inside and out- side the property. To protests from the plaintiff's counsel, the defendants' lawyer Richard Camilleri asked Robert Hornyold Strickland whether he had inherited a considerable num- ber of other properties from his great-aunt; "about eight properties in Lija, 10 properties in Valletta, something like that." The witness replied that it was "possibly as many as that," adding that "many had been sold to pay for death duties [inherit- ance tax]." The judge asked the lawyer where his line of questioning was leading to. Camilleri replied: "because they give the impression that they were left penniless." "These are properties I inherited from my aunt. Around 75% of their value is wrapped up in the duties. The number of properties I was left with after paying the dues was quite small." Asked if he was left shares in Xara Palace Hotel Company Ltd, which owns the eponymous hotel, he re- plied that he had and that these shares had also been sold to pay the death duties. "But had you inherited Villa Pari- sio, you would have had to pay death duties on that too, would you not?" began Camilleri, at which point the court intervened, pointing out that he could not argue that they were doing him a favour. Deirdre Hornyold-Strickland ex- plained that she had understood that the rights of use and habitation were in relation to living with her husband and family, but these rights had been limited to one bathroom, the bedrooms and the study. "I have been told it's not my home by mem- bers of the foundation, including Dr Mario de Marco," she said. "It is disingenuous in the extreme to say that we should be corralled in- to one bedroom and bathroom... not bathrooms with an 's' – I have had a handwriting expert examine the will. There is no doubt whatsoever that the plural is used. To predicate the whole case on one bathroom is nothing but fatuous, malicious and menacing of the family." She informed the court that she had camera footage of "an alterca- tion where I was told that it was not my home and that I was not in a guest room." Camilleri asked whether the entire villa was hers. "A home includes a dining room, a hall and a kitchen... and you tried to reduce me to a kitchenette, which is disgusting," she replied. In her opinion, the areas not intended for the heir's habita- tion were "somewhere outside the villa." The witness was asked whether she was aware of a clause in the will that said that the use and habitation should in no way interfere with the work of the foundation. She said she was but was also aware that "a right to a home prevails over any business interest." "Let's be honest here, the foun- dation is controlled by Mario de Marco, who refuses to relocate the foundation elsewhere – which is very easily done. I have my doubts whether Mabel Strickland knew what the rights of use and habitation meant. The will was badly drafted by Guido de Marco. You can't have a dichotomy in the will where you have a family residing in the villa at the same time as the Foundation. If the foundation relocated there would be no problem whatsoever." News PERSONAL LOAN My projects, passions and aspirations make me who I am. Whether I'm enjoying the things I love or trying out something new, I always want to get the best out of life. This is my time to upgrade and fulfil my ambitions. BELIEVE: THE TIME TO UPGRADE IS NOW *The loan is subject to the Bank's lending criteria. A typical example is based on a loan of ¤10,000 repayable through monthly instalments of ¤131.77 over a period of 8 years at a variable interest rate of 5.99% p.a. Loan is subject to an administration fee of 4% on the monthly instalment. The total sum payable throughout the term of the loan is ¤13,156.02, with an APR of 7.71% p.a. 'Personal Loans Plus Protection' incorporate an insurance cover that protects clients in case of accidental death, temporary or permanent total disablement or redundancy. Banif Bank (Malta) plc shall be the policy holder. Details relating to the policy are available on the Bank's website (banif.com.mt). Banif Bank (Malta) plc is a credit institution licensed to undertake the business of banking by the MFSA in terms of the Banking Act 1994. Registered in Malta C41030 – 203, Level 2, Rue D'Argens, Gzira, GZR 1368, Malta. PERSONAL LOANS PLUS PROTECTION * p.a. UPGRADE IS NOW UPGRADE IS NOW Strickland heirs insist on full control of Lija house