Financial Advisor Charged With Defrauding Client He Is Accused Of Murdering

A financial advisor, accused of bludgeoning a wealthy American socialite client to death at his Mayfair apartment, appeared in court yesterday charged with stealing £343,000 from the victim's bank account.

David Jeffs, 36, (pic.bottom) of Larch Close, Arnold, Nottingham was taken from his remand cell at top-security HMP Belmarsh to City of London Magistrates' Court.

He is charged with fraud by abuse of position between March 1, 2010 and December 2, last year, namely arranging and receiving the money from 63 year-old Roberto Troyan's accounts into his own personal bank account.

The body of Mr. Troyan (pic.top) was found by his cleaner at the Mount Street address on March 8.

He suffered fatal head injuries.

Mr. Troyan was the former partner of the late architect and interior designer Anthony Feldman, who had worked for Jonathan Aitken and Princess Michael of Kent.

Jeffs was a private client advisor with London and Surrey-based HFM Columbus, a partnership of financial and wealth management firms.

His Old Bailey murder trial is due to begin on October 7.