Aunt’s money: trial collapses

A CHADDERTON couple accused of stealing from a dead relative after being cut out of her will, have walked free from court.

Gail Woodward 47, and Barry Coogan 54, allegedly transferred £10,000 from the bank account of Gail’s aunt, Henrietta Morgan around the time of her death in hospital in January, 2008.

The couple maintained their innocence throughout, and a trial jury at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was discharged by Judge Bernard Lever, after being unable to reach a verdict after deliberating for more than four hours.

Asked if they would have been able to reach a decision on which a majority were agreed, given further time, the jury foreman replied no.

The Crown now have 21 days to indicate whether they intend to press for a retrial.

The court had been told that the money transfers were discovered after Mrs Morgan 88, died in hospital after an operation to clear fluid from her lungs.

Hugh Barton prosecuting said to them: “You thought you were entitled to this money, and you helped yourselves to it.”

He said they had deliberately taken the £10,0000 knowing it would possibly be their last chance to benefit from her savings.

Giving evidence at their trial however, Mr Coogan claimed the money had been freely gifted by aunt “Hettie” who he described as having a character like the character Blanche from ‘Coronation Street’.

He told the trial jury that when the money transfers had been made, he and his partner had not even known that they had been cut out of her will, and had not known she was going to die.

He said the £10,000 had been given by Mrs Morgan to his partner Gail when they visited her in hospital, to help clear debts.

The court had earlier been told that Mr Coogan had at one time been trusted to handle Mrs Morgan’s financial affairs, and had been given permission to access her internet bank account.

Mrs Morgan who had no children of her own, had fallen out with the pair in 2005 however, after believing Mr Coogan had stolen her late husband’s wallet — an allegation he has strenuously denied.

There was little contact between them until very shortly before her death.

Mr Coogan told the court he had been more to blame for the fall out, because he had felt extremely upset about the allegation.

Mr Coogan said immediately they were told that she was ill in hospital, they went to see her, but he denied a suggestion that the reconciliation was more to do with the fact that they had suffered financially because of the rift.

The court had been told that aunt Hettie, had in previous years given the couple thousands of pounds to help them out, including a gift of £45,000 which helped them buy a house.

Mr Coogan said he had been unable to work because of health problems since 2000, and his partner did not work and this led to them running up debts.

Woodward and Coogan of Gorton Street, Chadderton, had each denied fraud.

Two further allegations involving two cheques from Mrs Morgan’s account had been dropped during the trial.