Troy Bell’s theft, dishonesty trial hears prosecution case is ‘all sizzle, no sausage’

The prosecution case against an MP accused of spending educational funds on home renos is “misguided and misleading” and just a “mad rabble”, a court has heard.

Allegations a Mount Gambier MP stole more than $400,000 from at-risk kids is “all sizzle and no sausage”, a court has heard.

Troy Stephen Bell, 50, is standing trial in the District Court after pleading not guilty to 20 counts of theft and six counts of dishonest dealings with documents.

In his closing address on Monday, defence lawyer Nicholas Healy told the court the prosecution’s case was “a trial by smear” that invited the jury to speculate and “complete a jigsaw puzzle”.

“(The case) has more holes than a Balfours crumpet,” Mr Healy said.

Troy Bell is seen leaving Adelaide District Court with defence lawyer Nicholas Healy (right). Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

“The entire prosecution case is misguided, it’s misleading, it’s confused and confusing, and it is internally inconsistent. Your job is not to speculate, your job is not to fill in the gaps.

“This case concept of the prosecution’s lacks cogency, yet the prosecution ignore that and simply concentrate on matters that take their case nowhere.

“This is not a trial by vibe – we are not characters in the iconic Australian film The Castle.”

Last week, prosecutor Jemma Litster told the jury Mr Bell was motivated by greed and “an ongoing capacity to benefit financially”.

Prosecutor Jemma Litster outside District Court in 2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

She said Mr Bell took more than $436,000 from the not-for-profit independent Learning Centre (ILC) – an organisation he set up in 2006 to encourage at-risk and disadvantaged children to further their education.

The allegations also relate to two other not-for-profit associations in conjunction with the ILC – the South East Education and Training Association (SEETA) and the Limestone Coast Education and Training Association (LCETA).

The court previously heard Mr Bell used the money on flights to Los Angeles for both him and his wife, and that he confided in ex-Liberal leader Isobel Redmond at the height of the investigation – telling her he “had a way around” an ICAC probe.

She also submitted Mr Bell was “placating” his wife by not speaking openly to her, which was rebutted by Mr Healy on Monday.

“This wasn’t a man, ladies and gentlemen, who was simply ‘placating’ his wife as my learned friend suggested,” Mr Healy said. “He was a man with a genuine belief that he had done nothing dishonest.

“The prosecution case is a mad rabble – it has been from the outset, it makes no sense and it is entirely internally inconsistent.”

Mr Healy’s closing address continues.

MORE TO COME

Originally published as Troy Bell’s theft, dishonesty trial hears prosecution case is ‘all sizzle, no sausage’