Ben Currie to stand trial
Toowoomba horse trainer and three co-accused set for trial on fraud charge
TOOWOOMBA horse trainer Ben Currie and three co-accused are to stand trial on fraud charges.
None of the accused including Currie, 29, Denis Gordon Holbeck, 49, David John Litzow, 42, and Anthony Raymond Stephens, 26, were required to be in Toowoomba Magistrates Court yesterday when their respective matters were mentioned briefly.
Each of the four has been charged with one count of fraud – dishonestly gain benefit/advantage, as the charge reads on the court list.
None of the accused has as yet been required to enter a plea to their respective charge and each remains on bail.
The four are accused of “systematic fraudulent behaviour” over a period from November 2016 to March 2019 during which time it is alleged unregulated horse supplements designed to enhance race performance were allegedly sourced and administered to horses.
Authorities claim that, as a result, it was further alleged the accused had dishonestly gained a benefit through entitlement to prize money distributed by Racing Queensland for thoroughbred races in Queensland over that time.
Solicitors Nick Smith, of Bernays Lawyers, and Nathan Bouchier, of Bouchier Khan Lawyers, acting on behalf of the defendants’ respective legal representatives asked that the case be set down for a summary hearing expected to last two weeks.
Mr Smith said he understood the earliest date for a trial would be in May next year as the expert witness expected to be called to give evidence at the trial would not be available until then.
Mr Smith said because there were four defendants and each had legal representatives it was envisaged one of the larger courtrooms in Toowoomba would have to used for the trial.
Magistrate Howard Osborne therefore remanded all four accused men on bail and adjourned the matter for a two-week summary hearing in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court from Monday, May 10 next year.