‘Known’ TV worker denies Trelise Cooper theft charges



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A “well-known” worker in the television industry has pleaded not guilty to the theft of $ 500,000 from New Zealand fashion designer Dame Trelise Cooper’s salon in Auckland.

The 41-year-old is one of three people charged in the robbery at Cooper’s Newmarket headquarters in October this year.

The others are a 45-year-old woman, described as a florist in the collection documents, and a 44-year-old woman, linked to a bake sale business. Both are charged with receiving stolen “Trelise Cooper brand clothing,” court documents show.

During a brief hearing in Auckland District Court today, the man pleaded not guilty to theft and two counts of obtaining by deception.

His attorney, David Dickinson, also successfully advocated that his client maintain the provisional name removal.

Parts of the man’s affidavit in support of his crackdown offer, which was read to the court by Judge David Sharp, said the defendant was “well known” in the Auckland television industry and that the publicity could seriously compromise your business.

The court hearing that publishes the man’s name may also lead to the identification of the other defendants, that they have the provisional deletion of the name, and that continued publicity surrounding the case may impair their rights to a fair trial.

“Your rights to a fair trial are sufficient to overcome the burden based on the provisional removal of the name,” said Judge Sharp.

The man was placed in pre-trial detention on bail to reappear with the two women in March next year.

His arrest came after police searched a property in central Auckland last month.

During this, police said they recovered “a significant amount” of the clothing that was to be returned to Cooper.

After discovering that around $ 500,000 in high fashion had been stolen from her after 4 p.m. on October 17, Cooper said she was devastated.

The world-famous designer said on social media that all of her spring and summer 2021 swatches were gone, leaving only “a lonely hanger.”

“Along with some of our one-of-a-kind haute couture pieces. 1800 missing samples.”

Talking to The New Zealand Herald After the robbery, Cooper said the robber or robbers broke into the styling room through a vent in an electrical room.

“I feel violated. I feel bad for my staff. We have taken it as a kick in the stomach,” she said.

It was the first time their headquarters had been robbed in 25 years, although someone tried unsuccessfully to break into the building 14 years ago, Cooper said.

The building was alarmed and monitored by security guards, but it did not have CCTV.

Cooper, whose designs have been worn by international celebrities, said he was now installing cameras.

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