Jersey’s Magistrate’s Court was informed by Byrne’s advocate, Olaf Blakeley, that the earliest date the Royal Court would be able to stage what is expected to be a six to seven-week trial would be in July or August of 2018, reports local newspaper Jersey Evening Post.
Providence connection
Byrne faces 14 charges connected with previous dealing with clients and Guernsey-based Providence Global, which collapsed in August 2016.
It was wound up by order of the Royal Court of Guernsey following an application from the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) after all of the directors of two Providence subsidiaries quit over two days.
Lumiere Wealth was majority owned by Providence Global and promoted the Providence Investment Funds PCC, which offered investors returns of up to 14% from a Brazilian financial operation.
It was wound up by the Royal Court of Jersey in October 2016.
Investors were told in January that it was unlikely that they would get any of their money back.
Christopher Byrne
Byrne first appeared in court in October charged with falsely obtaining money from a pensioner. He stood accused of making a statement, promise, or forecast that he knew to be misleading, false or dishonest in order to persuade a woman in her 60s to invest £200,000 ($258,044, €219,643).
A further two charges of intentionally misleading the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) and failing to provide the regulator with requested information or documents were levied against him at the time.
He was later accused of defrauding a 77-year-old widow by tricking her into signing a document that turned out to be an unsecured personal loan agreement for £1m.
In June 2017, a further 10 charges were made against Byrne relating to advice that he gave clients while in charge of Lumiere Wealth.
Byrne was initially denied bail in October as he was deemed a flight risk, but it was later granted although he was not permitted to leave the island.
However, Jersey’s lower court approved an application from Byrne in June to travel to his native Ireland for a holiday and to attend his father’s 80th birthday.
