Overview
- The criminal trial of Anne and Daniel Facérias took place on Monday and Tuesday, June 29–30, 2026, at the Tribunal correctionnel de Paris and focused on changes to Michael Lonsdale’s final estate plan.
- Court documents and reporting say Lonsdale’s 2019 testament named La Diaconie de la Beauté, an association and endowment fund led by Anne Facérias, as universal legatee.
- Prosecutors alleged the couple obtained or concealed over €2 million from Lonsdale’s estate and asked for suspended prison sentences against the defendants.
- Anne Facérias denied exploiting Lonsdale in court, saying “Je ne me suis jamais servi de lui,” while Daniel faced charges of receiving proceeds from the alleged abuse.
- Judges have not yet issued a final verdict or sentence and the case raises broader questions about French law on abus de faiblesse (taking advantage of a vulnerable person) and recel (receiving gains from such abuse) in end-of-life situations.