Former NBA player accused of defrauding former friend and mentor Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown, of $750,000

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Australian basketball great Shane Heal is poised to stand trial in Brisbane over allegations he defrauded Philadelphia 76ers NBA coach Brett Brown.

The 46-year-old is accused of defrauding his former friend and coaching mentor of $750,000 when Heal was sole director of three companies, which are all now deregistered.

Heal was committed to stand trial at the Brisbane district court on three fraud charges by magistrate Jacqui Payne on Thursday, despite her deeming aspects of the crown’s case “weak”.

NBL basketball great Shane Heal faces court on fraud charges Read more

Outside court, Heal said he was disappointed but had always presumed the committal process would lead to a future trial.

“I look forward to being able to get on the stand and really let the truth come out and tell my side of the story,” he said.

It came after his barrister, Peter Davis QC, claimed the former NBL guard did nothing wrong in his dealings with Brown and some of the prosecution allegations against him were “nonsense”.

Davis said the three ventures the money had been loaned by Brown for – to acquire a coffee shop in Southport, set up a construction fit-out business and clinch a deal over a burger franchise – were all eventually realised.

But crown prosecutor Deborah Holliday said money lent by Brown was not used for the purpose that Heal represented to him that it would be.

The matter will come before a higher court on a future date.

