Grieving widow of aristocrat says his family think she pushed him out of window
The grieving partner of an aristocrat who died following a fall claims some of his family believe she pushed him to his death.
Teresa Marshall de Paoli, 88, who was with the Marquess of Ailesbury for 37 years, said the 98-year-old fell out of a first floor window while letting out their cat, Honeybun.
He was found bleeding from the head on the patio of her west London home.
The family of the Marquess, also known as Michael Brudenell-Bruce and Lord Ailesbury, are contesting his will, the Mail on Sunday reports.
It was changed two years ago and gives Ms Marshall de Paoli, a former model who once dated Frank Sinatra, a fifth of his estate.
She said relatives of the Marquess, who had dementia, suspect she was involved in her partner’s death, have kept their distance and shunned her at his wake.
She told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The rest of the family avoided speaking to me altogether at the wake. David (the Marquess’s son) would come inside to get himself more prosecco but would not speak to me.’
Meanwhile David, 71, the newly styled 9th Marquess, told the paper: ‘The sadness is she and he were alone in the building and we will never know. There’ll be a coroner’s inquest and the only possible outcome is an open verdict.’
He said he had suspicions over Ms Marshall de Paoli’s involvement in his father’s death and confirmed he was contesting the will.
Ms Marshall de Paoli is an executor of her late partner’s will. She did not have power of attorney.
Although she will receive a share of the will, David’s son Tom, the new Earl of Cardigan – is the main beneficiary.
Ms Marshall de Paoli said David is not in the will as the two men had not spoken for 50 years.
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She said she was her partner’s carer until the end of his life as she didn’t want him to go into a home.
She added: ‘I simply did not push him out of the window. I thought he’d live to be 101 and I would die before him.’
The Metropolitan Police told the Mail Online the Marquess’s death was unexpected but not suspicious.
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