Marie Josette "Jojo" Capece Minutolo
& Anthony Shaffer
For years news reports circulated on the internet regarding the relationship of Marie Josette "Jojo" Capece Minutolo and Anthony Shaffer.
Anthony Shaffer, separated from his Australian wife, Diane Cilento, was in divorce negotiations and died days before the settlement was finalized. Capece was his fiancé who lived with him in London for several years. He died from a massive heart attack in her arms at the home they shared unable to be resuscitated by ambulance crews or upon arrival at Chelsea Westminster Hospital.
Anthony Shaffer’s new will, to be finalized in days, written in his own hand, (he graduated from Cambridge as a barrister), was unsigned at the time of death. Anthony Shaffer never took citizenship in Australia. He built a theatre there many years before on acreage jointly owned with Cilento. In the last four years of his life, less than 14% of his time was spent in Australia. When he was there, he produced plays. He remained until his death a British subject.
Death duty taxes of remarkable significance were lost to the UK from the multi-millionaire’s fortune with the verdict of Judge Lewison that set domicile in Australia. Australia does not impose death duties.
English law differs to some extent to the law of both the United States and Australia. Under British law, Capece’s valid claim as Anthony Shaffer’s publicly named next-of-kin and dependent was 100% legal and represented the publicly recorded and stated wishes of Anthony.
The case gained public scrutiny because of the fame of Anthony Shaffer, known worldwide for his play, SLEUTH. Had this case been otherwise, it would have passed without public interest. To this day the case is 'textbook' for the Law Society of Great Britain and remains under scrutiny.
The Shaffer family, citing privacy, asked for all hearings to be conducted in a closed court, outsiders were not permitted entry. This included the press – who were not privy to complete information. Press stories fueled by incorrect facts, and sensationalism, have met with libel about the inheritance case Capece pursued.
Sir Peter Shaffer and Capece brought separate legal complaints about various news articles pertaining to this case. Capece, represented by Solicitor Graham Atkins, won the libel issues in the Royal Courts of Justice in England in 2004. The annuity Anthony Shaffer designated for her went to defray her massive legal fees.
In 2008, Capece commented:
I had the tragic responsibility to break the news of Tony’s death firstly to Peter who flew in from his residence in New York. His daughters at first were unable to be reached with their cell phones turned off. Diane was in Australia and his ex-wife in France. His brother, Brian, living in Cambridge, immediately came to see me.
Adhering to Tony’s wishes, Sir Peter Shaffer, his twin, met with me and arranged Tony’s burial in England where he was domiciled. The playwrights were born in Liverpool. Tony’s entire family – a number of whom were not actively involved in his life at time of death - were in attendance at the funeral at Highgate Cemetery and later the Jewish funeral rite, Shiva, at our home in Chelsea, London. No one spoke of domicile in Australia throughout the mourning period. I was completely bereft and at no time was unkind to anyone.
Under English law I remained in the home Tony provided for me for three years after his death until the verdict of domicile was decreed. Without sufficient funds to appeal the case, although given the opportunity, I was unable to uphold Tony’s decision, set in lawyer’s attendance notes wanting to terminate his union with Ms Cilento, noting the only place he called home was London.
His memoir, SO WHAT DID YOU EXPECT was published by Macmillan and ironically made its debut the day he died, 6 November 2001. His affection for me is noted by his placement of my lengthy Italian name in the first paragraph of his book. Some members of his family tried to bring about an injunction to restrain publication. His publishers called me in to confer. Fortunately, Tony’s words were not halted. Tony cited in his text (which I have in print and his hand), he left living in Australia years before and lived only in London.
With Tony's passing I lost an extraordinary person in my life. It is impossible to describe the void that existed in my heart for years. What saddens me - and it was one of Tony's fears, is that his family have fallen out and polarized into opposing camps arguing over his legacy - striking out at me, the individual who cared for him right to the end of his life. Such was the rage and despair felt by some members of his family. Perhaps this can be described as a madness brought on by loss and anguish, some began slander in the press. I never spoke an ill word of anyone.
Untruths were stopped by resorting to lawyers, an action I was reluctant to do as I felt it went against Tony's memory and of the spirit we lived by treasuring privacy. Arthur Davidson, Queen's Counsel, best friend of Tony's over sixty years, insisted my rights were upheld. To all those who stood beside me at a wretched time in my life, I thank especially my three children, esteemed barrister Jonathan Crystal, Sir Oliver and Lady Wright, Shireen and John Ritchie and the Sebag Montifiore family.
I have left England permanently and live in America. My life has changed, I have dealt with my loss and moved on.
Anthony Shaffer, separated from his Australian wife, Diane Cilento, was in divorce negotiations and died days before the settlement was finalized. Capece was his fiancé who lived with him in London for several years. He died from a massive heart attack in her arms at the home they shared unable to be resuscitated by ambulance crews or upon arrival at Chelsea Westminster Hospital.
Anthony Shaffer’s new will, to be finalized in days, written in his own hand, (he graduated from Cambridge as a barrister), was unsigned at the time of death. Anthony Shaffer never took citizenship in Australia. He built a theatre there many years before on acreage jointly owned with Cilento. In the last four years of his life, less than 14% of his time was spent in Australia. When he was there, he produced plays. He remained until his death a British subject.
Death duty taxes of remarkable significance were lost to the UK from the multi-millionaire’s fortune with the verdict of Judge Lewison that set domicile in Australia. Australia does not impose death duties.
English law differs to some extent to the law of both the United States and Australia. Under British law, Capece’s valid claim as Anthony Shaffer’s publicly named next-of-kin and dependent was 100% legal and represented the publicly recorded and stated wishes of Anthony.
The case gained public scrutiny because of the fame of Anthony Shaffer, known worldwide for his play, SLEUTH. Had this case been otherwise, it would have passed without public interest. To this day the case is 'textbook' for the Law Society of Great Britain and remains under scrutiny.
The Shaffer family, citing privacy, asked for all hearings to be conducted in a closed court, outsiders were not permitted entry. This included the press – who were not privy to complete information. Press stories fueled by incorrect facts, and sensationalism, have met with libel about the inheritance case Capece pursued.
Sir Peter Shaffer and Capece brought separate legal complaints about various news articles pertaining to this case. Capece, represented by Solicitor Graham Atkins, won the libel issues in the Royal Courts of Justice in England in 2004. The annuity Anthony Shaffer designated for her went to defray her massive legal fees.
In 2008, Capece commented:
I had the tragic responsibility to break the news of Tony’s death firstly to Peter who flew in from his residence in New York. His daughters at first were unable to be reached with their cell phones turned off. Diane was in Australia and his ex-wife in France. His brother, Brian, living in Cambridge, immediately came to see me.
Adhering to Tony’s wishes, Sir Peter Shaffer, his twin, met with me and arranged Tony’s burial in England where he was domiciled. The playwrights were born in Liverpool. Tony’s entire family – a number of whom were not actively involved in his life at time of death - were in attendance at the funeral at Highgate Cemetery and later the Jewish funeral rite, Shiva, at our home in Chelsea, London. No one spoke of domicile in Australia throughout the mourning period. I was completely bereft and at no time was unkind to anyone.
Under English law I remained in the home Tony provided for me for three years after his death until the verdict of domicile was decreed. Without sufficient funds to appeal the case, although given the opportunity, I was unable to uphold Tony’s decision, set in lawyer’s attendance notes wanting to terminate his union with Ms Cilento, noting the only place he called home was London.
His memoir, SO WHAT DID YOU EXPECT was published by Macmillan and ironically made its debut the day he died, 6 November 2001. His affection for me is noted by his placement of my lengthy Italian name in the first paragraph of his book. Some members of his family tried to bring about an injunction to restrain publication. His publishers called me in to confer. Fortunately, Tony’s words were not halted. Tony cited in his text (which I have in print and his hand), he left living in Australia years before and lived only in London.
With Tony's passing I lost an extraordinary person in my life. It is impossible to describe the void that existed in my heart for years. What saddens me - and it was one of Tony's fears, is that his family have fallen out and polarized into opposing camps arguing over his legacy - striking out at me, the individual who cared for him right to the end of his life. Such was the rage and despair felt by some members of his family. Perhaps this can be described as a madness brought on by loss and anguish, some began slander in the press. I never spoke an ill word of anyone.
Untruths were stopped by resorting to lawyers, an action I was reluctant to do as I felt it went against Tony's memory and of the spirit we lived by treasuring privacy. Arthur Davidson, Queen's Counsel, best friend of Tony's over sixty years, insisted my rights were upheld. To all those who stood beside me at a wretched time in my life, I thank especially my three children, esteemed barrister Jonathan Crystal, Sir Oliver and Lady Wright, Shireen and John Ritchie and the Sebag Montifiore family.
I have left England permanently and live in America. My life has changed, I have dealt with my loss and moved on.