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last mo.

B.C. Court Clears Way for Trial Over Escort’s $1M Inheritance

Justice Gary P. Weatherill rejected the beneficiary’s dismissal bid, confirming a June 30 hearing that now includes a prior will’s beneficiary as a party.

A photo of a screenshot included in an affidavit that purports to show an escort profile for Simon Garstin, allegedly a.k.a. Sam Gaines. Janet Henry's niece and nephew allege Garstin was 'dominant' in his relationship with then-84-year-old Henry, whose last will named him as the beneficiary of the bulk of her estate.
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Overview

  • Janet Henry revised her August 2021 will to leave about $1 million to Simon Garstin, a male escort 54 years her junior, before her November 2021 death.
  • Her niece and nephew, Jillian and Ross McCrone, contend that Henry was vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic and that Garstin unduly influenced her decisions.
  • Simon Garstin denies any undue influence, portraying Henry as a sophisticated client who retained control over their arrangements.
  • Douglas Wilson, who was named beneficiary in Henry’s February 2021 will, successfully joined the contest after Weatherill dismissed Garstin’s bid to throw out the case.
  • The dispute will go before B.C. Supreme Court on June 30 to examine Henry’s mental capacity and the validity of her August 2021 estate plan.