Angela Berry is pictured at the City of Windsor's 400 City Hall Square East in this 2009 file photo. Nick Brancaccio / Windsor Star

A preliminary hearing has begun for the city’s former lead internal auditor who is accused of defrauding taxpayers of more than $36,000.

Angela Jacqueline Berry, 48, appeared in Ontario court Monday. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for four days this week.

The standard of proof at a preliminary hearing needed to proceed to trial is very low. Berry’s new lawyer, Linda McCurdy, has already conceded there will be enough evidence for her client to be committed to stand trial. The preliminary hearing is being held for discovery purposes so Berry can hear what the prosecution witnesses have to say.

Berry was charged in December 2015 on one count of fraud over $5,000. She is accused of defrauding her employer — the City of Windsor — between September 2014 and January 2015. She last worked for the city on April 1, 2015.

Windsor police say they had begun investigating Berry before her departure.

The charge implies Berry had the authority to make payments on the city’s behalf.

Details of the allegations underpinning the charge were disclosed in testimony from witnesses Monday. A court order prohibits publication of what evidence was heard.

The city has said previously Berry was working as a parks operations asset analyst at the time of the allegations. Berry had assumed the position in 2013 after being off work for two years.

Berry had been off on leave after a filing a complaint in March 2011 under what was then new provincial legislation to address workplace harassment and violence. She had been auditing the WFCU Centre at the time and, according to public salary disclosure documents, was making a yearly salary of $108,000.

Once Berry’s preliminary hearing is complete, her case will be transferred to Superior Court where her trial will eventually take place.

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