Shanaz Karim v Dean Steele & Anor

Shanaz Karim v Dean Steele & Anor

The 2015 will was procured by undue influence and/or fraudulent calumny by John Quinn, given Sheila Carter's total dependence, psychological vulnerability, isolation from her support network, and untruths told by Quinn. The circumstantial evidence compels the conclusion that Sheila's testamentary intentions were vitiated, and the 2015 will is invalid.

Parties
Claimant: Shanaz Karim; First Defendant: Dean Steele; Second Defendant: John Quinn
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
20 August 2025
Procedural Posture
Probate and Proprietary Estoppel / Judgment After Trial on Written Evidence
Outcome
2015 will pronounced against; grant revoked; proprietary estoppel claim not decided.
Legal Topics
Testamentary Capacity, Knowledge and Approval, Undue Influence, Fraudulent Calumny, Proprietary Estoppel
Probate Property Equity Testamentary Capacity Knowledge and Approval Undue Influence Fraudulent Calumny Proprietary Estoppel

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Parties

Shanaz Karim

Claimant

Dean Steele

First Defendant

John Quinn

Second Defendant

Procedural Posture

Probate and Proprietary Estoppel / Judgment After Trial on Written Evidence

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Validity of the 2015 will
  2. 2 Testamentary capacity of Sheila Carter
  3. 3 Knowledge and approval of will contents

Ratio Decidendi

The 2015 will was procured by undue influence and/or fraudulent calumny by John Quinn, given Sheila Carter's total dependence, psychological vulnerability, isolation from her support network, and untruths told by Quinn. The circumstantial evidence compels the conclusion that Sheila's testamentary intentions were vitiated, and the 2015 will is invalid.

Court Disposition

2015 will pronounced against; grant revoked; proprietary estoppel claim not decided.

Orders

  • Revocation of grant of probate in respect of the 2015 will.
  • Pronouncement against the validity of the 2015 will.