A judge has ruled a man's £5 million fortune will go to a burger bar chef opposed to the millionaire's sister.
In his 2013 will, David Turner decided to leave his multi-million fortune to burger chef Sam Jones should he pass away.
Sadly, just five years later in 2017, Turner did pass away as a result of an aggressive brain tumour.
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Rather than the fortune in the will going straight to Jones, Turner's sister decided to go to court over the will, arguing she should receive the £5 million.
Turner and Jones first met when Jones served the millionaire while in a burger van on the side of the road in Chertsey, Surrey.
The pair remained close friends for 17 years until the day Turner passed away - sharing a love for classic cars and guitar.
Jones was a 'daily visitor to the farm' Turner lived on and helping 'care for Turner when his illness became debilitation shortly before his death,' London's High Court heard.
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When Turner passed away in 2017, it was revealed he'd decided to leave everything to Jones and a few other close friends - Jones set to gain a half share in a 14-acre plot near the M25 worth up to £10 million if planning permission is possible, and a skip hire business which had been in Turner's family for nearly a century.
However, Turner's estranged sister - Cano - was not happy and jumped at the chance to contest the will over the issue of its original copy having never been found.
Cano argued the 2013 will should be made legally null and void because for all anyone knew, Turner could have disposed of the original copy and changed his wishes - the sister claiming Turner often chopped and changed his will.
She then suggested after a nullification that as Turner's next of kin, she should inherit his fortune under the laws of intestacy.
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As per Title Research: "If the Deceased was single with no children, any surviving parent(s) will be next in the order of priority. If the Deceased was single with no children or surviving parents, any full sibling(s) will be next in the order of priority."
However, Jones' barrister Rose Fetherstonhaugh rebutted that Jones was 'like a son' to Turner.
"Mr Jones looked to him as a father figure, and he was a grandfather figure to Mr Jones’ children," Jones' barrister said.
Fetherstonhaugh continued: "Mr Turner grew closer and closer to Mr Jones, and Mr Jones would be around the deceased regularly and up at the farm in the evenings.
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"By contrast, Mr Turner had a very poor relationship with his sister. This was well known amongst the deceased’s friends; for example, one friend’s evidence is that he 'never heard Mr Turner say a good word about Mrs Cano' - he spoke in language that I wouldn’t repeat… he did not like her and did not want to talk about her."
Indeed, a document written by Jones with instructions surrounding his will revealed the millionaire brand his sister and ex-partner 'conniving b*****s'.
The judge resolved: "It’s clear from the evidence that Mr Turner expressed a strong dislike for his sister.
"His intentions were clear in 2013 that he wanted Mr Jones to benefit as his friend and that he didn’t want any part of his estate to go to Mrs Cano.
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"There’s no evidence of any kind to suggest that Mr Turner’s intentions changed from the date he made his will in 2013, and he remained estranged from his sister.
"There is clear, unchallenged evidence that Mr Jones was a daily visitor to the farm. Mr Jones and others helped care for Mr Turner when his illness became debilitating shortly before his death, showing the strong bond and connections between them.
"There’s no evidence that Mr Turner attempted to make a new will."
Jones and others of Turner's friends will subsequently walk away with the fortune, Cano not receiving a single penny.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
Topics: Food And Drink, Money
Poppy Bilderbeck