Fraud trial ends abruptly with defendant's death

A fraud trial which began in Tauranga District Court this week has come to an abrupt end with the death of the defendant Donald Moris Rea.

Rea, 57, was accused of cheating hundreds of investors through multi-million dollar money-go-round schemes. He was charged under the Crimes Act with theft by misappropriating proceeds held under direction.

The Serious Fraud Office alleged that he received more than $26 million from would-be investors, which he fraudulently applied to his own use or use of others.

Crown prosecutor Philip Morgan QC said today that Rea died last night, so the trial was now at an end.

Rea had been defending himself, with the assistance of his wife Catherine.

He was on bail at the time of his death.

A Tauranga police spokesman said he understood the death was from natural causes and it had not been referred to the coroner.

- NZPA