A 50-year-old Redwood man denies 59 charges of obtaining money by deception from an 82-year-old pensioner who allegedly provided him with “cash loans” totalling $90,790.
Police today asked to withdraw six of the charges against Kim Michael David Barwell, a labourer, which has reduced the total of money involved.
Barwell was refused bail at his first court appearance on March 24 and was appearing in the Christchurch District Court today by video-link from Christchurch Men’s Prison.
After Judge Gary MacAskill agreed to the police request to drop six charges, defence counsel Linda Drummond said Barwell pleaded not guilty to the remaining 59 charges and elected a trial before a judge-alone.
The police allege the pensioner handed over the money as “cash loans” to Barwell to pay for items such as food, car repairs, medication for his partner, tuition for a heavy vehicle licence, and funeral costs.
Barwell has entered no plea to one charge that was laid later than the others and alleges he obtained $220 by deception from a different complainant.
Judge MacAskill remanded him in custody for a case review hearing on June 20.
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