AN accused callous thief who allegedly stole $400 cash and bank cards from a 58-year-old man while he was suffering a stroke at Mount Hutton in January will face a hearing next month.
The alleged victim - who suffered a stroke while seated in his car in the car park of the Lake Macquarie Hotel - has since died, Newcastle Local Court heard on Friday.
Parolee Michael Moroney-Paine, 29, claimed after his arrest in January that he was a "Good Samaritan" and only intended to help the man.
But police say Mr Moroney-Paine, of Windale, is an opportunistic thief who first came to the man's assistance and called triple-zero before emptying his wallet and fleeing the scene.
Mr Moroney-Paine appeared in court on Friday after earlier pleading not guilty to charges of larceny, escaping police custody and resisting arrest.
He will have spent six months in custody by the time of his hearing on July 7, a longer period than usual due to the restrictions around COVID-19.
