'Weak' case for share of millionaire's estate, court told

The four people claiming that German millionaire Robert Leitl made them promises of gold, jewellery and money before he died had weak cases, lawyers acting for his estate and beneficiaries said in the High Court at Auckland yesterday.

The lawyers, representing Mr Leitl's executors, some infant beneficiaries and charities, were presenting closing submissions to Justice Rod Hansen in the legal dispute over the businessman's $6 million estate.

The four claimants believe that Mr Leitl promised them gold and jewellery, money or that debts totalling over $1 million would be "forgiven" on his death.

Antonia Fisher, representing charities named in the will, said Mr Leitl provided for 25 per cent of his estate to go to Auckland University to establish a chair in optometry.

The Salvation Army was to get 15 per cent and the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind another 15 per cent.

Ms Fisher said good deeds carried out by the claimants for Mr Leitl were concentrated in the final few months of his life. The claimants appeared to be boosting their cases by supporting each other.

Helen Sumich, for the executors, said Mr Leitl was a careful, experienced and successful businessman. He was a man of his word who had a complex will drawn up in 1993, only four years before his death.

He had opportunities to change the will, which benefited members of his late wife's family and his own family, but never did so.

She said Mr Leitl had made changes on a photocopy of the will but the changes were not valid.

He had also left unsigned and undated handwritten notes that also did not qualify as a will.

The court also heard evidence this week from a former Lufthansa Airlines New Zealand manager who said he believed Mr Leitl promised to give him his Mercedes car on his death.

Wolfgram Leonhardt said that he was forced to file a claim against Mr Leitl's estate when the Mercedes was not mentioned in the will.

The court heard that six weeks ago Mr Leonhardt settled with the executors after being offered $26,650 for the early '80s model.