Qld pink diamond thief to learn fate

A British tourist charged over the theft of a rare pink diamond in Cairns will learn his fate next month.

Detectives allege Matthew Mark Luke John Osborne, 30, stole the Argyle diamond, worth more than $100,000, from a Cairns jeweller in February last year.

He was arrested at Melbourne Airport five days later as he prepared to board a flight to the UK via New Zealand.

The diamond has never been found.

Osborne's case was mentioned briefly in the Cairns District Court on Tuesday when a sentencing date was set down for April 30. He has entered no plea.

His lawyer, Vicki Toong, asked for the delay to allow mental health reports to arrive from the UK.

Osborne has been in custody since his arrest.