A former Serious Fraud Office chief prosecutor has pleaded guilty to forgery charges but was this morning discharged without conviction.
Anita Maria Killeen, 35, appeared before Judge Mary Beth Sharp in Auckland District Court, where her lawyer, Paul Davison QC, entered guilty pleas to forgery and using a forged document.
The charges carry maximum jail penalties of three and 10 years.
Killeen did not speak or stand in the dock but was allowed to sit beside Mr Davison during sentencing, which lasted almost two hours.
Judge Sharp said she had indicated at a pre-sentencing application in October that she would consider a discharge without conviction under the Sentencing Act because the circumstances of the case were so unusual.