A COUPLE accused of an elaborate insurance fraud near Tamworth are set to fight the case in court, despite prosecutors withdrawing one of the charges.
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Patricia Pearl Taylor, 50, and Sidney George Gower, 52, have maintained their not guilty plea to one count of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, after reviewing the evidence against them.
The Bendemeer couple, who now live on the Mid North Coast, did not appear in Tamworth Local Court when their case was scheduled this week.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Rob Baillie said police wouldn't be pushing the second fraud charge for both accused.
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"They are the attempts, I withdraw those," he told the court.
The pair are accused of an elaborate insurance fraud after a suspicious campervan fire at Bendemeer earlier this year.
Barrister Bruce Donnelly asked for a hearing date and magistrate Julie Soars said the case could be heard as early as November because she was "trying to get rid of some dates where an inquest was vacated" in Tamworth court.
Ms Soars was told the availability of solicitors and witnesses meant the earliest it could be heard was in the new year.
"Bail to continue," Ms Soars told the court, confirming the hearing date in mid-January.
"The time estimate is three hours for both matters together."
Police will allege a fraudulent insurance claim was submitted for the camper before it went up in flames on January 18 in Bendemeer.
Emergency services were called to the fire, at a property where they were living, but the campervan was destroyed.
Oxley detectives launched an investigation into the circumstances of the fire, which they claimed was suspicious.
Detectives uncovered evidence they allege shows a fraudulent claim for insurance had been submitted - prior to the fire erupting.
Oxley detectives travelled to Kempsey in August where Taylor, 50, was arrested at the local police station. Gower, 52, was arrested shortly after.
No charges have been laid in relation to the fire.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
