Findings from a coronial inquest into the disappearance of fraudster Melissa Caddick have been handed down in Sydney.
The Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan ruled Ms Caddick is dead, but the manner of her demise remains unknown.
There were heated scenes outside the court, when Ms Caddick's husband Anthony Koletti pushed past reporters as he left the building after the findings were delivered.
This is how the action unfolded.
Key events
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Live updates
That's it for the blog today
By Greta Stonehouse
It's been a big morning at the Lidcombe Coroner's Court, with one chapter closed on an enduring Sydney mystery.
Focus now turns to the Federal Court case where Ms Caddick's former clients are fighting to reclaim some of their lost funds.
Thank you all for reading this morning.
Until next time.
Anthony Koletti's 'confusing evidence'
By Greta Stonehouse
The deputy state coroner said Mr Koletti's confusing evidence may have contributed to the lack of findings in the inquest, but couldn't be sure.
"It is not possible to know precisely what information he has withheld from police.
"Nevertheless, he is a witness who would be expected to have been a primary source of information as to the events of 11 to 13 November 2020.
"His lack of candour is regrettable," the findings said.
Expert oceanic evidence inconclusive
By Greta Stonehouse
Oceanographer Professor Dr David Griffen told the inquest that Ms Caddick's body could have travelled in the ocean for a period of 10 - 70 days.
"The oceanographic evidence therefore establishes that it is possible Ms Caddick's body entered the waters off Dover Heights on or about 12 November 2020," Magistrate Ryan said.
"However, there can be no certainty about this, due to lack of evidence as to the depth at which it travelled, and the variables in ocean drift direction and drift velocity."
Dr Griffen said Ms Caddick's body could have entered the water anywhere between Hobart and Brisbane.
Recommendations rejected, one accepted
By Greta Stonehouse
The deputy state coroner rejected most of the submissions and recommendations by Mr Koletti's lawyer on his behalf, saying none had any evidentiary basis.
However, she agreed that "there is no evidence that Ms Caddick is still alive.
She made one recommendation proposed by Counsel Assisting, about how missing persons are reported to the police.
She advised the NSW Commissioner Karen Webb to consider revising the missing persons registry, and to clearly outline when the homicide squad should be notified.
Mr Koletti pushes past reporters on his way out of court
By Greta Stonehouse
Ms Caddick's brother, Adam Grimley, can be heard honking his horn loudly as Mr Koletti refuses to answer any questions.
VIDEO: Family and friends had 'complete faith' in Caddick's integrity
By Greta Stonehouse
Claims Ms Caddick was mistreated during the raid, dismissed
By Greta Stonehouse
Ms Caddick's family, along with her husband, claimed that Ms Caddick was seriously mistreated by ASIC and AFP officers raiding her home.
Mr Koletti alleged that his wife died "as a direct result of ASIC's negligence, cruelty and inhumanity," while her mother made a similar claim.
However, the deputy coroner has refuted this, and also dismissed their allegations Ms Caddick was denied food, water or medication during the raid.
"There is no evidence that in the execution of the search warrant, the involved
ASIC and AFP officers acted improperly, disregarded the welfare of Ms
Caddick or her family, exceeded their powers, or took disproportionate
measures to ensure the integrity of the search," she found.
Anthony Koletti made 'untrue' statements to police
By Greta Stonehouse
The deputy state coroner has concluded that Ms Caddick's husband, Anthony Koletti, chose to make statements that were "simply untrue".
She said he made the statements both to police investigating his wife's disappearance, and to the coroner, throughout the inquest.
His evidence was "riddled" with inconsistencies and confusions, she said.
Magistrate Ryan said this invites the question as to why he had been unwilling to provide a frank account of what took place between November 11 and 13, 2020, before reporting her missing.
"I have concluded ... during (that period) he had some awareness of Ms Caddick's movements over the previous two days, but he chose not to disclose it."
The police investigation takes centre stage
By Greta Stonehouse
The adequacy of the police investigation was scrutinised throughout the two-week inquest, in 2022.
One of the first detectives on the scene, Detective Sergeant Michael Kyneur, formed the view early on that Ms Caddick hadn't been harmed by anyone.
"Having regard to all the evidence, I have concluded it was premature to have dismissed this possibility," Magistrate Ryan said.
"One of the matters I have taken into account is the widespread concern which police officers held as to the truthfulness of (her husband) Mr Koletti."
"The investigation ought to have been referred to the homicide squad at an early stage."
Magistrate Ryan said the failure to do this created the risk that crucial information might have been lost.
But she accepted this was only speculation, and an earlier referral may not have resulted in useful evidence.
Findings about the foot that washed up
By Greta Stonehouse
Ms Caddick's decomposing foot washing up on a beach 450km south of Sydney became a pivotal moment in the developing case.
The foot encased in a sneaker matched Ms Caddick's DNA, and was found three months after she disappeared.
Magistrate Ryan said this discovery did not mean she had necessarily died.
"Autopsy alone doesn't enable a finding that she is deceased."
But she pointed to inquest evidence to show it was unlikely Ms Caddick had cut off her own foot, or had someone else do it.
"It is most unlikely that Melissa Caddick's foot separated from her body as the result of a deliberate act to sever it."
Ms Caddick's personality under the microscope
By Greta Stonehouse
Magistrate Ryan says Ms Caddick strived to create the impression of wealth and success, and this was integral to her alleged scheme.
Following the discovery of her crimes, she may have suffered "narcissistic injury," according to evidence presented at the inquest.
"The ASIC investigation and search warrant very likely caused her a catastrophic level of shame and despair," Magistrate Ryan said.
"She may well have reached the conclusion that ending her life was the only option."
Corporate watchdog suspects Ms Caddick stole more than $23 million
By Greta Stonehouse
Our reporters Jamie McKinnell and Isobel Roe are inside the coroner's court as a summary of the findings are read out.
Magistrate Ryan says ASIC suspected Ms Caddick stole in excess of $23 million at the time her home was raided.
"Ms Caddick's clients were shocked and felt a profound sense of betrayal when they discovered that the money they had invested with her had gone.
"To many their losses represented all the money they had saved for their retirement, or for their children's education. The financial and emotional harm that they have suffered will reverberate for many years to come."
Caddick is dead, coroner rules
By Greta Stonehouse
Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan has found Ms Caddick is dead, but the manner of her death remains unresolved.
"I have concluded that Melissa Caddick is deceased. However, a more problematical issue is whether the evidence is sufficient to enable a positive finding as to how she died and when or where this happened."
Police investigation and what they uncovered
By Greta Stonehouse
Three months after Ms Caddick went missing, her decomposing foot encased in a sneaker washed up on Bournda Beach, on the NSW south coast.
Police investigated several theories, including that Ms Caddick had "gone to ground," or had suffered significant injury.
A third theory was that Ms Caddick had taken her own life.
What we know so far
By Greta Stonehouse
Ms Caddick was last seen alive in November 2020, when her house was raided by the Australian Federal Police and the corporate watchdog.
ASIC was investigating a PONZI scheme Ms Caddick was allegedly running which resulted in between $20 and $30 million in losses to investors.
Her husband Anthony Koletti reported his wife missing more than 30 hours after he says she went for a walk the morning after the raid.
She left home without her phone, keys or wallet, on November 12 at about 5.30am, and the coronial inquest was told nobody has seen or heard from her since.
Melissa Caddick findings to be revealed
By Greta Stonehouse
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Sydney fraudster Melissa Caddick's inquest findings.
It's been two-and-a-half years since the conwoman seemingly vanished into thin air.
And while the inquest into her disappearance heard weeks of evidence from family, investigators, lawyers, and experts, the mystery that captured a nation, may remain unsolved.
The coroner will soon hand down her findings and I'll be taking you through the most important points - so stay tuned!
