A supervisor from the Bermuda Commercial Bank gave evidence in Supreme Court yesterday on the financial statements of a local lawyer on trial for allegedly stealing more than $500,000 from a mentally ill widowed client.

Julian Ernest Sinclair Hall, who is representing himself in Supreme Court, is accused of stealing $551,044 from the widow, Betty Lorraine McMahon between 1995 and 1996.

Bermuda Commercial Bank supervisor Ann Robinson yesterday confirmed internal statements entered as evidence were those of Woodley Limited, an account opened by Hall and Michael J. Scott on 8 November 1995.

A managers? cheque of $250,000 was deposited into the new account on that date.

Under questioning by Senior Crown counsel, Carrington Mahoney, Mrs. Robertson confirmed that a letter had been sent to her by Hall on 9 November 2004 asking her make out three different managers? cheques ? one for $75,000 to Bermuda Home, $13,000 to the Accountant General and $5,100 to Gibbons Deposit Company.

All three cheques were entered as evidence.

Another letter was received by Mrs. Robertson from Hall on the same day requesting two more managers? cheques made payable to the Accountant General ? one for $25,000 and one for $50,000.

One of these was deposited into the Accountant General?s account at the Bermuda Commercial Bank and the other was deposited into the Accountant General?s account at the Bank of Butterfield.

An inspector for the Department of Social Insurance during 1994/1995, Alan Lugo, testified that a payment of $25,000 was received from Hall?s legal practice, Hall and Associates on 14 November 1994. Cheques to Social Insurance are generally made out to the Accountant General.

However, Mr. Lugo said two receipts were issued to this payment and he could neither confirm nor deny that only one payment had been received for $25,000 as opposed to two separate cheques for $17,121.41 and $7,878.59 (as reflected in the receipts).

There was also no record of where the payment came from.

Mrs. Robertson had confirmed in earlier testimony that other manager?s cheques were requested by Hall in writing over a period of four months.

Wire transfers were also made, including some to The Royal Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Boston and Lloyds Bank in Sussex in the United Kingdom for various amounts from $1,000 to $3,000.

Mrs. Robertson told the court that financial records older than ten years were generally destroyed and cheques, which had been written out by the client (Hall) would have been returned to Woodley Limited (Hall) as proof ? the bank would not keep these.

She said she could not say who the cheques, as shown on the bank statements as being debited from the account, were made out too. Only manager?s cheques are indicated on the internal statements.

The Crown alleges that Hall had taken advantage of Mrs. McMahon?s mental illness to get her to sign a power of attorney.

He had then used his legal privileges to extract large sums of money from her bank account to pay off his personal debts, including Bermuda Homes who were about to foreclose on his house.

Hall had also failed to pay payroll tax and he was behind on his child support payments, among other things.

The case is being heard by Chief Justice Richard Ground and continues today.