Gérald Descamps, who has always denied the facts, was tried from Thursday by the Assize Court of Laon (Aisne).
The 50-year-old accused spoke in sign language throughout this hearing.
Like many witnesses, who, at the end of these five days of trial, convinced the jurors to sentence Gerald Descamps to 20 years in prison for the murder of Caroline Pirson, as well as for acts of theft and fraud.
He appealed the verdict.
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Murder of Caroline Pirson: a crime in the deaf-mute community at the Assizes
The victim, a 47-year-old deaf-mute, was found dead in her apartment in 2016, her face slashed with 16 deep wounds.
Gérald Descamps had known Caroline Pirson since adolescence.
They had met at the education center for deaf youth in Arras, then lost sight of each other before recently reconnecting.
No alibi
According to his statements, which evolved during the investigation, Gérald Descamps would have even had sexual intercourse with the victim on December 29, 2016, the day before his death.
The body of the latter was found on December 31, 2016, her face ravaged by major wounds.
A first suspect arrested was dismissed.
Gérald Descamps has been in pre-trial detention since January 2017. His trial has been postponed due to the epidemic.
This father, who had developed an addiction to games, failed to justify several disturbing elements, during the hearing.
He had no solid alibi for the night of the murder, and his DNA was also found on the front of Caroline Pirson's bank card.
However, it was used several times in the minutes and days following his disappearance, from December 30 at 10:46 p.m. and in the following week.
