Hunter Lord Gray’s $800k fraud case progresses in Maroochydore court

A Sippy Downs man accused of defrauding $800,000 through dodgy business deals has appeared in court again where he applied to cross examine five witnesses. Read the latest.

A Sippy Downs man accused of defrauding $800,000 through dodgy business deals has had his application to cross examine witnesses dismissed.

Hunter Lord Gray, 60, was charged with seven counts of dishonestly obtaining property from another valued greater than $30,000 and three counts of dishonestly obtaining property from another.

The court heard back in August 2021 police allege Mr Gray was provided about $800,000 over a 10-year period to “assist in establishing companies that didn’t eventuate”.

Mr Gray intends to plead not guilty to the charges.

Mr Gray appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on September 30, 2022, where solicitor David Crews applied to cross examine five witnesses on his behalf.

Hunter Lord Gray leaves Maroochydore Magistrate Court.

Mr Crews had to prove there were substantial reasons in the interest of justice to cross examine the witnesses.

Magistrate Bevan Hughes said Mr Crews endeavoured to refer to significant inconsistencies, determine criminal liability and undermine the credit of three of the witnesses.

“I’m satisfied that the sheer volume of the questions and the open-endedness of many of the questions are more characteristically a fishing expedition rather than targeted cross examination,” Mr Hughes said.

Hunter Lord Gray leaves Maroochydore Magistrate Court.

“Allowing the application would in turn amount to a blanket cross examination causing an unnecessary delay.

“The view I have formed is that many of the questions hope that a line of line of defence might be revealed … that would present an unnecessary and inappropriate use of the streamline committal process.”

Mr Crews submitted that he wanted to make a no case submission so the matter was adjourned until December 8 for a committal hand up.