 Family feud ... Cattle baron Peter Sherwin and his estranged son-in-law Craig Commens. Picture: Clive Hyde |
- Worker elopes with cattle baron`s daughter
- Now they`re divorcing; in-laws want cash back
- Court says $1.3m in loans, interest not a gift
AN AUSTRALIAN cattle baron has won a $1 million court battle against the man who eloped with his 19-year-old daughter and took off with her like a "mongrel dog".
Peter Sherwin, aged in his 70s, has successfully sued his estranged son-in-law Craig Commens in the Northern Territory Supreme Court for $1.3 million in unpaid loans and interest.
Justice Stephen Southwood said Mr Commens - a former Sherwin station worker - had lied to the court that the money was a gift and was driven by a "glaring" bitterness towards his soon-to-be ex in-laws who made him feel unworthy of belonging to the family.
The court battle exposed family secrets, financial gifts and a teenage runaway saga that nearly split the wealthy Northern Territory dynasty, today`s Northern Territory News reports.
Mr Sherwin, and his wife Fay, said they lent Mr Commens $1.12 million in four separate deposits between 1999 and 2002, to buy Queensland cattle stations and pay off spiralling farm debts.
The Sherwins said it was "not probable" they would have gifted the money, as they were "just so hurt" when Mr Commens - their then mustering pilot - ran away with their 19-year-old daughter Maria in 1986.
In court, the pilot, now a 47-year-old real estate agent, demanded to know why the wealthy couple had not attended his 1987 wedding to their daughter.
Mrs Sherwin said they were upset he had "stolen" Mr Sherwin`s personal plane in 1986 and flown with their daughter to Alice Springs.
"I never heard ... from you for approximately 12 months, then all you sent was ... an invitation to the wedding," she told the court in July.
She said his act was "not something that people do in the bush", the Northern Territory News reported at the time.
Mr Sherwin also responded to his former employee`s question, saying: "Well, you ran away like a mongrel dog - that`s the reason".
"Were you upset that I left with your daughter or used your aeroplane?" Mr Commens asked.
"Both," Mr Sherwin replied.
Justice Southwood said Mr Commens was "not a very skilful farmer" in the 15 years he ran Queensland cattle stations.
He said Mr Commens lied in court due to his "antipathy" towards Mr and Mrs Sherwin, who are financing their daughter`s divorce proceedings against Mr Commens.
