Gardener accused of killing Briton who ended an affair with him
GARDENER accused of killing his British expat lover in rural France after a brief romance told a court yesterday that the claims against him were “lies”.
Jean-Louis Cayrou is charged with murdering Patricia Wilson
Jean-Louis Cayrou, 54, is charged with murdering Patricia Wilson, 58, who vanished from her home in VabreTizac, south-west France, in August 2012.
Her body has never been found.
Friends became worried when she failed to contact them on returning to France from Britain.
Mrs Wilson first met divorced Cayrou in 2012 and they quickly became lovers
They eventually let themselves into her house to check on her, calling police when they discovered the electricity had been cut along with traces of blood. DNA and blood from Mrs Wilson were found in the boot of Cayrou’s car, on a torch and a strap, a court heard.
Mrs Wilson, who was originally from Welwyn Garden City, Herts, moved to Aveyron in 2008 with her partner, Donald Marcus.
Trial judge Regis Cayrol said Mrs Wilson first met divorced Cayrou in 2012 and they quickly became lovers.
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However, relations between them deteriorated, the court in Rodez, southern France, was told.
Mr Marcus had returned to England to be treated for multiple sclerosis six months before the relationship between Cayrou and Mrs Wilson began, the court heard.
Friends became worried when she failed to contact them on returning to France from Britain
At the end of July, Mrs Wilson confided in friends about a violent argument she allegedly had with Cayrou when she tried to end their relationship.
Her friends claimed that three days later Cayrou entered her house while she was sleeping and cut the electricity before trying to suffocate her.
Wilson's body has never been found
He is said to have told her: “I am doing this to show that you need a man in the house.“
On August 8, Mrs Wilson returned to England for a visit, and was said to have been bombarded with calls from Cayrou, the judge said.
Patricia Wilson, 58, vanished from her home in VabreTizac
She went back to France on August 17.
Cayrou protested as the charges against him were read aloud, saying they were “lies”.