Husband guilty in murder case without a body that shocked France

BBC:

A murder trial without a body which transfixed France has ended with 38-year-old painter-decorator Cédric Jubillar convicted of killing his wife.

Throughout the four-week trial, Jubillar maintained his innocence but he was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to 30 years in jail.

In four weeks of hearings in the southern town of Albi, the defence argued that because the body of his wife Delphine had never been found there was no certainty a crime had been committed.

But the jury of six civilians and three magistrates decided that even in the absence of a body there was enough circumstantial evidence to conclude that Jubillar was guilty of murder.

Prosecutors had called for a 30-year sentence, and Jubillar’s lawyers have said they will appeal.

“We respect the jury’s decision,” said defence lawyer Alexandre Martin. “Of course we’re disappointed, but we knew there would be a second battle, and we will get back to work on this appeal.

“Delphine was killed by her husband’s hands,” said Laurent Boguet, acting for the couple’s two children. It was now for Jubillar to “tell us where his wife’s remains are and return them to the family”.