A 70-year-old girl has been charged over the killing of British expat Karen Carter – who was discovered stabbed to loss of life at her French residence greater than a yr in the past.
Ms Carter, 65, was attacked on the property within the village of Trémolat in Dordogne on April 29 final yr.
On the time of her loss of life, the mother-of-four had been on the verge of divorcing her South Africa-based husband, Alan Carter, now 66.
She was rumoured to have been seeing Jean-François Guerrier, a 75-year-old retired enterprise govt who lived near her French residence, on the similar time.
The investigation into her killing was mired in thriller, however native media reported {that a} girl has now been formally charged with Ms Carter’s homicide.
The general public prosecutor of Périgueux, Jacques-Edouard Andrault, advised Sud Ouest: ‘On July 2, the investigating choose in Périgueux formally charged a lady with homicide.
‘This 70-year-old girl, initially from Trémolat, was taken into custody on April 30, 2025, throughout a preliminary investigation earlier than being launched.’
The prosecutor added: ‘Since then, the investigations performed as a part of the judicial inquiry opened on Might 7, 2025, have led the investigating choose to indict her.’
Karen Carter, 65, was discovered exterior a guesthouse she ran in Trémolat, east of Bordeaux
Ms Carter was attacked on the property (pictured) within the Dordogne village on April 29 final yr
The house the place Ms Carter was discovered useless
Ms Carter and her husband Alan – who she had been on the verge of divorcing
Jean-Francois Guerrier, the person rumoured to have been romantically linked to Karen
Dordogne Libre, an area French paper, reported that the girl who was arrested was recognized on this case for having ‘unrequited emotions’ for Guerrier, and frequented the identical neighborhood café as Ms Carter.
It was beforehand reported that she was held for 48 hours after the incident, earlier than being launched after ‘checks relating to her whereabouts’.
Ms Carter died in entrance of the guesthouse she opened within the tranquil village.
Investigators stated on the time she had been stabbed eight occasions, with one blow ‘penetrating the aorta’.
They added that the reason for her loss of life was a ‘huge haemorrhage’.
The general public prosecutor stated the ‘judicial inquiry is continuous’.
Her lover, Guerrier, had hosted a wine tasting get together on the day Ms Carter died, and later adopted her to her residence in his automotive.
When he obtained there he discovered her mendacity in a pool of blood, earlier than she was declared useless on the scene by emergency staff.
Mr Guerrier first stated he was involved that his lover had not telephoned him on reaching her home, which was simply ten minutes away from his.
He then advised police he ‘had come to spend the evening at Karen’s’, leaked interview notes revealed.
Ms Carter was stated to have divided her time between France and South Africa. She and her husband owned their property, referred to as Les Chouettes, for 15 years.
The farmhouse and barn sleeps 16 in whole and was a well-liked vacation rental. The couple owned two different properties close to Trémolat.
The couple had 4 grownup kids collectively – two daughters and two sons – who reside within the UK, America, Australia and South Africa.
On the day of her loss of life, Ms Carter had skilled along with her soccer group, comprising girls aged between 50 and 70.
Later that night, she attended a wine tasting soirée at Cafe Village – a bar which acts as a neighborhood hub, the place she often volunteered.
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Two days earlier than her homicide, on her sixty fifth birthday, Ms Carter posed for what’s believed to be her final ever {photograph} whereas out for lunch with associates
Regardless of one of the best efforts of medics, she died on the scene from extreme blood loss
Earlier than she left, Guerrier requested her to name him when she obtained residence so he knew she was secure.
However when no such name was made, he drove to Ms Carter’s residence and located her physique.
Regardless of one of the best efforts of medics, she died on the scene from extreme blood loss.
Mr Andrault stated the 70-year-old was formally charged with premeditated homicide on July 2, and was at the moment underneath ‘judicial supervision’ due to her age.
This implies she is underneath fixed surveillance by judicial police, without having to remain in a cell.
Mr Andrault confirmed she was a resident of Trémolat, however was not at the moment permitted to remain within the village.
Whereas detectives investigated the crime, Ms Carter’s widower and 4 grownup kids had a powerful feeling about who was guilty.
Their lawyer, Reda Hammouche, stated on April 29 this yr – the one-year anniversary of the crime – that that they had ‘a hunch, an opinion on the matter’.
He stated it adopted an in depth examination of ‘the case file that we focus on – me and them – within the privateness of our conferences.’
Mr Hammouche continued: ‘In order that they have a hunch, however I will not elaborate additional on the topic.
‘I clearly cannot go into element for the reason that confidentiality of the investigation prevents me from divulging such data, however quite a few leads are being explored, many actions are being taken, and so,certainly, each day, as I communicate to you, actions are being carried out.
‘And so they hope that every one of this can be resolved by figuring out the perpetrator of this homicide and by justice being served for Karen.’
