- Home
- What’s on
- Observations
- Police watch
- Home security
- Advice
- Legal directory
- Search archives
- Contacts
Art dealer denies charges of theft, deception
Art dealer Donald William Cornes is denying charges of theft and attempting to obtain by deception, and the case is heading for a defended hearing.
Cornes, 66, was remanded on bail to a pre-hearing conference at the Christchurch Court House on September 19.
Defence counsel Kerry Cook asked for Cornes’ appearance at Nga Hau e Wha marae today to be excused because the remand was meant to have been done through a registrar.
The application for that remand had not gone through as planned so Cornes was not present. Cook said Cornes had also been granted permission to travel to Australia as part of his bail conditions.
Cornes is charged with attempting to gain $18,250 by deception through an insurance claim in June last year.
He is also charged that between April and September 2009, at Christchurch, he did not deal with the proceeds of five paintings worth $72,500 by John Douglas McLean as required, and therefore committed theft.
