ATLANTIC

Trial dates confirmed for Zinck in spending scandal

THE CANADIAN PRESS Published Tuesday, September 25, 2012 11:17AM ADT Last Updated Tuesday, September 25, 2012 11:17AM ADT

Independent member Trevor Zinck (pictured right) is charged with theft over $5,000, fraud over $5,000 and breach of trust.

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HALIFAX -- Trial dates have been confirmed for Independent politician Trevor Zinck, who faces charges in Nova Scotia's constituency spending scandal.

Ten days have been set aside for the trial, which is scheduled to begin June 10 next year in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

Zinck's lawyer Lyle Howe was in court today to confirm the dates which had been tentatively set during a hearing earlier this month.

Zinck, who wasn't in court today, is charged with theft over $5,000, fraud over $5,000 and breach of trust.

He was one of four politicians charged in February 2010 after an RCMP investigation.

Former Liberal Dave Wilson was sentenced in April after admitting to defrauding the public purse of nearly $61,000. He was released from custody last month after serving four months of a nine-month sentence.

Richard Hurlburt, a former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister, was sentenced in July to a year of house arrest after pleading guilty to charges of fraud and breach of trust.

A trial for former Liberal cabinet minister Russell MacKinnon is set to begin in March. He has pleaded not guilty to fraud, breach of trust and uttering forged documents.