French Resistance heroine’s adviser cleared of fraud and forging her will

A FINANCIAL adviser to a heroine of the French Resistance has been cleared of abusing his position after a judge ruled he had always been trying to protect her.

Barry Jefferd, 57, was accused of committing fraud and forgery after helping Armande Cohen, 96, change her will because the original left everything to her brother who since died.

Miss Cohen, who had won the Croix de Guerre for her bravery during the Second World War, was suffering from dementia and did not have the capacity to manage her own finances, it was alleged. But Mr Jefferd was cleared after the judge noted that not only was Miss Cohen capable, but the changes did not make him a beneficiary in any way.

Judge Bartle QC said that all of those involved in her care said that she had improved after returning home from hospital in 2011 and she was capable of managing her own finances. He concluded that Mr Jefferd was “careful to check” Miss Cohen’s instructions were being followed when the will was drawn and when she amended it again in 2012.

The accountant stood trial alongside Olivier Reymond, 53, Miss Cohen’s doctor, to whom she had bequeathed her flat.

Dr Reymond was accused of abusing his position to “procure payments” of £109,000 between 2011 and 2016 for treatment knowing Miss Cohen could not manage her financial affairs.

Both men denied the allegations and the judge halted the trial halfway through and ordered not guilty verdicts after ruling that neither had a case to answer.