Wednesday 28 September 2022 06:08 AM Brutal question Melissa Caddick's husband was asked before he cried trends now
The 'confused' husband of fraudster Melissa Caddick has burst into tears while being questioned over an inconsistency about his wife's disappearance - as tensions hit breaking point as a frustrated lawyer asks if he is capable of reading.
Anthony Koletti returned to the witness box on Wednesday at the NSW Coroners Court inquest into his wife's disappearance and suspected death.
Award-winning journalist Kate McClymont, who investigated Ms Caddick's disappearance in her podcast Liar Liar, said Mr Koletti appeared to have started crying after finding it increasingly difficult to follow proceedings.
Tensions hit breaking point when Jason Downing SC, counsel assisting Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan, asked Mr Koletti if he was capable of reading.
'Mr Koletti, you can read, can't you?' Mr Downing asked to which Ms Caddick's husband replied: 'I am so confused by your questions'.
Anthony Koletti has burst into tears while being questioned over an inconsistency about his wife Melissa Caddick's disappearance (pictured, the couple in happier times)
McClymont tweeted that Mr Koletti appeared to be crying after questioning and had been asked by a lawyer assisting the coroner if he is capable of reading
In a series of live tweets from inside the court, McClymont said a 15-minute break had been called to allow Mr Koletti to compose himself and 'collect his thoughts'.
'The coroner said the questions were legitimate, but it had to be determined if he's mentally unable to continue because of distress,' she tweeted.
Just after 1 pm, the coroner announced Mr Koletti would be dismissed from giving evidence, telling him: 'If you are unable to focus on the questions and give truthful answers, that is not going to assist me'.
He had previously told Mr Downing on the morning of her disappearance on November 12, 2020, he assumed Ms Caddick had gone out to do some exercise.
'I didn't think anything of it ... she's just gone for a walk which she does every day not a problem,' he told police in an interview.
In evidence, Mr Koletti agreed that his wife had no habits, her exercise regime was irregular and she mostly jogged on the treadmill by that stage.
Tensions had hit breaking point when Jason Downing SC, counsel assisting Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan, asked Mr Koletti (pictured) if he was capable of reading
Mr Koletti has recalled the moment he and Ms Caddick (pictured) fell in love at a secret meeting and struck up an 'intimate friendship' while she was still married
Mr Downing continued questioning Mr Koletti on Wednesday about this inconsistency, asking if he was now trying to justify his answers.
'One of the accounts must not be true,' Mr Downing said.
'I'm guessing so, yes,' Mr Koletti said.
'Why are you guessing?' Mr Downing said.
'Because your questions are confusing, the way you talk is not the way my mind works,' Mr Koletti said.
'Everyone has got a
