After a months-long investigation, a 71-year-old man was indicted for the murder of his wife, 70, who died at the couple's home in April in Albert, in the Somme, said Thursday. October 8 the floor of Amiens.
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The septuagenarian, who disputes the facts, was placed under judicial control after his indictment for murder by spouse, dating from the end of July, told AFP the prosecutor, Alexandre de Bosschère, confirming information from
Courrier Picard
.
The prosecution had requested pre-trial detention.
Placed in custody on April 27, 2020, in view of the suspicious injuries found on the body, the man was initially released in the immediate absence of sufficient charges against him.
He had been married to the victim for 47 years, with no known history of domestic violence within the couple.
It was he who warned the emergency services, shortly before noon on April 27, claiming to have discovered the lifeless body of his wife, who presented significant wounds to the head, but making inconsistent statements.
The autopsy had also revealed several rib fractures, and a "
very degraded
"
state of health
of the deceased, the prosecution said in April.
This case brings to at least 57 the number of suspected feminicides since the beginning of the year, according to an AFP count.
In 2019, 146 women were killed by their spouse or ex-partner, 25 more than the previous year, according to the latest official figures.
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