Man who left fortune to Tories declared to be nuts

by Feòrag

Scotland: The will of a man who left £8 million to the Conservative Party has been overturned by the courts on the grounds that he was not of sound mind when he made the will.

Branislav Bane Kostic ran a successful pharmaceuticals business in Switzerland and London, but became convinced that dark forces were out to get him.

He cut his son Zoran, who lives on Marchmont Road, out of his will and instead left his entire estate to the Conservative Party. At the time, he thought that former prime minister Margaret Thatcher would save the world from monsters, and believed she was the greatest leader of the free world in history.

So, clearly bonkers then. The BBC has further details of the extent of his delusion:

He was tormented by delusions that I and other members of my family were part of a worldwide conspiracy of terrorists and criminals who were trying to kill him.

“My father refused medical treatment, because he also feared that doctors would harm him. In the grip of his delusions, my father turned to the Conservative Party for help to fight the conspiracy that he imagined....

The court heard that Mr Kostic had made the will after saying Margaret Thatcher was the greatest leader of the free world in history and that she would save the world from the satanic monsters and freaks.

Rejected son wins back £8m from Tories—Edinburgh Evening News, 15th October 2007; Tories lose £8.3m bequest battle—BBC News, 15th October 2007.

Tags: bampots, Conservative Party, Scotland, United Kingdom