Adelaide lawyer Stephen McNamara guilty of defrauding deceased estates of $500,000
For years, he stole money from deceased estates — and fabricated evidence to cover his tracks. Now justice has caught up with this lawyer.
An Adelaide lawyer has been found guilty of defrauding deceased estates through sham investments and fabricating evidence to conceal his deceit — and had his bail revoked.
District Court Judge Michael Boylan, who presided over the trial of Stephen McNamara in the absence of a jury earlier this year, found him guilty of 33 charges on Tuesday.
McNamara had faced trial on 17 counts of theft — seven of which were aggravated — and 16 counts of using fabricated evidence.
Judge Boylan found McNamara’s co-accused, Philip John Pitman, not guilty of a single count of fabricating evidence and discharged him.
Prosecutor James Slocombe asked the court to revoke McNamara’s bail because he said there was “no scope for a suspended sentence” or a home detention sentence.
“He is convicted of 33 offences over a three-year course of conduct,” he said.
“This is a sustained and deliberate set of offending involving multiple breaches of trust.
“The total funds subject to dishonesty were just short of $500,000.”
Craig Caldicott, for McNamara, had asked his client remain on continuing bail and for five weeks to prepare for a pre-sentence hearing, but Judge Boylan cancelled the bail agreement.
McNamara, whose supporters sobbed as he was taken into custody, will return to court for a pre-sentence hearing in November.