A South Island lawyer struck off over accusations of stealing nearly $3 million from clients will stand trial later this year on 33 criminal charges.
John David Milne, a 79-year-old lawyer from Dunedin, and latterly Christchurch, was investigated by the Serious Fraud Office over alleged long-term fraud.
The SFO laid the criminal charges, which include theft by a person in special relationship, at Christchurch District Court last August.
Milne denies the charges, and his trial is set down to start on October 6 at Christchurch District Court, with a final callover on September 26.
The charges claim he elicited money from clients or associates on the premise that he would invest that money and pay them a return on their invested funds.