Man who raided his late girlfriend’s superannuation to make himself the beneficiary just days after she died during surgery is jailed
A man has been jailed for nearly four years after he tried to claim nearly $400,000 from his late girlfriend’s pension just days after she died during surgery.
Travis Paul Barnard, 32, was convicted in the Perth Court Friday after she was found guilty by a jury in March of logging into Kim Heptinstall’s super account on her mobile phone and changing the beneficiary nomination in his details.
He tried to access $400,000 in retirement and life insurance benefits.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) charged Barnard in July 2020 after investigating claims the superannuation account was accessed in the hours after Ms Heptinstall, 32, died during gastric surgery in 2019.
Barnard was sentenced to three years and ten months in prison, backdated to March 25, 2024, with a non-parole period of one year and eleven months.
Travis Barnard (pictured) has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for trying to fraudulently claim nearly $400,000 from his late girlfriend’s pension after her sudden death
The AFP charged Barnard in July 2020 after investigating claims the pension account was accessed in the hours after Ms Heptinstall, 32, died during stomach surgery in 2019 (his arrest is pictured)
Barnard tried to cover up the offenses by deleting Ms Heptinstall’s banking and pension apps and logging out of her email address, the court heard.
He then handed the phone to her family.
Mrs Heptinstall’s family became concerned about her financial affairs after Barnard tried to obtain a copy of her death certificate.
Barnard, who was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) in 2015, initially denied committing the crimes.
He later claimed the offense had been the work of “the other Travis.”
District Court Judge David MacLean refused to accept his “baseless” claim, saying it was like trying to hold a “phantom” responsible.
Kim Heptinstall (pictured) died suddenly from complications during surgery in 2019
Outside court, Ms Heptinstall’s brother Ben (pictured) said his family had been through ‘hell’
Judge MacLean said Barnard had failed to show any remorse for his crimes and had failed to take responsibility for the ‘cold’ breach of trust.
He said there was a high risk that Barnard would offend again and the only appropriate sentence was a prison sentence, which would take effect immediately.
Outside court, Ms Heptinstall’s brother Ben said his family had been through ‘hell’.
“It’s a relief that it has finally come to light because we have had to live with the lies for the past five years,” he said.
“For the judge to finally recognize and accept what really happened in those hours and days after my sister’s death is a huge relief for what we have been fighting for for the past five years.”
