Woman dies while on trial over alleged scam

One of two women charged in relation to an alleged $2 million Nigerian scam has died while on trial.

Elva Mary Medhurst, 78, who faced two charges of theft, had a subsidiary role in the case being heard in Auckland District Court.

Her cousin, Patricia Lenine Mabel Walsh, 65, is facing 51 charges of fraud, forgery and theft.

The women's jury trial began on Monday of last week.

Medhurst missed the second day because of illness, but returned to court the following day.

Her lawyer, Tony Bouchier, said today that she was given leave of absence again at midday last Friday.

She died at a south Auckland medical centre that night, with doctors believing the cause of death to have been a massive heart attack.

Mr Bouchier said the trial had been an ordeal for Medhurst.

"She was a frail, old lady and had lived a sheltered life," he said. "The trial obviously caused her an enormous amount of stress."

He said the proceedings against her had lapsed, but he was looking at avenues to clear her name.

"We still have presumption of innocence in this country," he said. "Given that she has died and the proceedings have lapsed, that presumption should continue."

The hearing of the charges against Walsh resumed this week and prosecutors expect the trial to last another week.

- NZPA