Convicted killer Andrew Cobby pleads not guilty to defrauding investors of thousands of dollars

Convicted murderer Andrew Cobby allegedly defrauded investors of thousands of dollars in a Gold Coast-based scheme, and has asked for an “extra-special” allowance as the case reaches its final stages.

The final evidence has been heard in the fraud case against convicted killer Andrew Cobby.

He pleaded not guilty to several charges of fraud and forgery on the first day of his hearing in Southport Magistrates Court this week.

It was alleged that between July, 2015 and February, 2016, Cobby took money from five investors for what he claimed were bonuses obtained through his share trading account.

One of Cobby’s alleged victims and the final prosecution witness gave her evidence on Thursday.

Appearing via videolink from Malaysia, the woman said she invested two payments of several thousands dollars for what she was told would be risk-free bonuses, the first to be returned after six months and the second after 30 days.

She told the court she knew Cobby as ‘John Peterson’ at the time, and that she was told the Andrew Cobby who owned a bank account she transferred money into was John’s lawyer.

The woman said she was still yet to get any of her money back.

She refuted Cobby’s suggestions during cross-examination that she misunderstood the terms of the investment when they were explained to her, saying she handed over the money because she had been told it was “risk-free”.

Andrew Cobby is taken into Southport Watch house and charged with the Worongary murder of his wife. Photo: 9 Gold Coast News

Cobby chose to neither give nor call evidence after the prosecution case was closed.

He asked Magistrate Dzenita Balic for an “extra-special” adjournment to prepare his closing address, saying he needed full transcripts as it was extremely difficult to take accurate notes while self-represented.

Cobby also claimed he suffered constant and “intolerable” migraines after sustaining a head injury in an assault at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre, where he was previously in custody.

Ms Balic said it was “unusual” but should be granted. Cobby’s case was adjourned to August 21.

It was alleged earlier in the hearing that Cobby used an alias while living in a sharehouse with his first alleged victim, to whom he portrayed himself as a successful share trader with computer screens in his room displaying multimillion-dollar trading accounts.

Prosecutor Ben Fotheringham said in his opening address on Monday that Cobby allegedly told his housemate his broker was offering him “risk-free” bonuses due to his large account, extending the offer to him and his girlfriend among others.

Mr Fotheringham said the alarm was raised in early 2016 when Cobby’s alleged victims did not receive their “Christmas bonuses” within the promised time frame.

The court was told Cobby claimed his trading accounts had been frozen after his broker became suspicious, and months later allegedly emailed his housemate a letter – purportedly from share trading platform CMC Markets – supporting his claim. It is alleged he later told investors he drafted the letter himself to buy time.

Cobby is currently serving a jail sentence for the brutal murder of his estranged wife Kym Cobby. He is seeking to appeal the conviction and that case remains before the courts.

Several of Kym’s family members have been present in court throughout the hearing.

Originally published as Convicted killer Andrew Cobby pleads not guilty to defrauding investors of thousands of dollars