A FORMER Victoria Point lawyer has been detained in custody after being accused of fraud.
Russell Biddle faced three counts of fraud in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Magistrate John Costello delayed a bail application from Mr Biddle’s barrister, Adrian Braithwaite.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Scott Pearson opposed bail.
Mr Biddle, 45, was extradited from Sydney to face allegations he took $1.145million from the deceased estate of De Havilland plane crash victims John and Carol Dawson.
The Dawsons lived at Tingalpa and Carol's mother, Thelma Condon, lives in Victoria Point, near where Mr Biddle once practised.
Sgt Pearson said at least three transactions were made from the estate account to a Suncorp Bank account between November 29, 2012 and March 5, 2013.
The transactions allegedly totalled $1.145 million and were not instructed by the estate’s beneficiary, believed to live in Victoria Point.
Biddle, who moved to Sydney with his wife and daughter, was referred to the Queensland Law Society late last year and a complaint of alleged fraud was made to police.
His law firm, Biddle Lawyers, which specialised in compensation law, conveyancing, commercial property law, wills, estates and family law, was bought by legal firm Slater and Gordon in September.
A Slater and Gordon spokesman said Russell Biddle was no longer associated with the business.
"Where we have been asked to assist, we have worked closely with the Queensland Law Society and Queensland Police to fully support and assist them with their inquires," the spokesman said.
"Albeit, now at the periphery of this issue, as this matter is now the subject of a police investigation, it is not appropriate we make any further comment.”
John and Carol Dawson, both 63, were killed when the vintage plane they were in crashed in the Sunshine Coast hinterland in October 2012.
The restored 1934 De Havilland Dragon, flown by Des Porter, of Wynnum, disappeared on October 1, en route from Monto to Caboolture. The wreckage was found two days later, 36km south west of Gympie.
The case was listed for committal call over on July 6.
