A WOMAN who was embroiled in a court battle with her banker boyfriend’s family over his £4million estate has been found dead.
Magdalena Zalinska, 44, was discovered by cops who broke down the door of her apartment in Clapham, South London after officers on patrol were approached by neighbours concerned for her welfare.
5
The MailOnline has reported that police have confirmed that former nightclub owner Ms Zalinska’s death is being treated as unexpected, but not suspicious.
She was at the heart of a bitter fight over her former lover Danny Truell’s estate, after he died in 2019.
Danny, who made his £18 million fortune with Goldman Sachs before becoming the UK’s best-paid charity boss, passed away aged 55 after suffering from motor neurone disease for many years.
His brother Edi claimed that Ms Zelinska, originally from Poland, exerted “undue influence” on him and referred to her as a “call girl” via his lawyers.
He also alleged that she used her nightclub business as a “front” to “extract” money from the multi-millionaire.
The row erupted after she was given Danny’s interest in his flat in Clapham, South London in his will, as well as £2 million in cash and £1.3 million from his bank account in the seven years before his death.
Ms Zalinska, who was nine years her Danny’s junior, has denied the claim and insisted that their relationship was genuine and loving.
In a preliminary hearing of the case, Amit Karia, Ms Zalinska’s barrister, pointed to the fact that he referred to her as his “partner and dependent” in his will.
However, Edi and John Rayner Hatchard (the other executor of the estate) say that evidence casts doubt on the “quality” of the relationship.
While, Edi accepted that she was in a sexual relationship with his brother, his claim is that she exerted “undue influence” on him to hand over cash and property and that, because of this, the will should be set aside.
The initial hearing was told that the dispute revolves around the “strange relationship” between the pair.
Edward Hicks, acting for Edi, told the judge that Danny led two “very separate lives”, one with his family and the other with Ms Zalinska.
He added that he and his clients “have evidence that she was in relationships with other people”.
The case was set to be decided in a two-week High Court hearing next year.
It unclear what effect Ms Zalinska’s death will have, though she does have two children who could inherit the property and money she received from Danny.
The Metropolitan Police have been contacted for comment.
5
5
