Two men charged with fraud over the collapse of South Canterbury Finance have dropped an appeal for their case to be heard in front of a jury instead of a judge.
The company went into receivership in 2010 owing $1.6 billion, making it the biggest fraud case in New Zealand history.
Former chief executive Lachie McLeod had already been ordered to stand trial in front of a judge but his co-accused, Edward Sullivan and Robert White, indicated they wanted to appeal the decision.
In rejecting their arguments in August on why they should stand trial in front of a jury, Justice Heath said the case was too complex.
The pair have now dropped their appeal and will stand trial along with Mr McLeod in front of a judge at the High Court in Timaru on 12 March 2014.
Charges against a fourth man, accountant Terrence Hutton, will be decided at a separate hearing in Timaru on 2 December this year.
