Pensioner charged after Briton stabbed to death in serene French village

A pensioner has been charged after a Briton was stabbed to death in a serene French village last year.

Karen Carter was repeatedly knifed in the quaint village of Trémolat in Dordogne, a region in south west France in April.

The mother-of-four was victim of a "frenzied attack" when she sustained eight major wounds to her chest, groin, arm, leg and aorta.

The fatal injuries were described as catastrophic. Ms Carter had been in the process of divorcing her husband, Alan Carter, who lived in South Africa.

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Now, a 70-year-old woman, who was previously taken into custody last year before she was released, has been formally charged with murder.

The public prosecutor of Périgueux, Jacques-Edouard Andrault, said: "On July 2nd, the investigating judge in Périgueux formally charged a woman with murder.

"This 70-year-old woman, originally from Trémolat, was taken into custody on April 30, 2025, during a preliminary investigation before being released.’

"Since then, the investigations conducted as part of the judicial inquiry opened on May 7, 2025 have led the investigating judge to indict her."

Upon initial investigation, authorities said the death was being treated as a "crime of passion" possibly linked to a new romance.

Just before her murder, Mrs Carter had been out with her French lover, Jean-François Guerrier, who was originally arrested.

He was later released without charge.

Ms Carter promised to call Mr Guerrier once she returned back home safely from the wine tasting - but when he never heard from her, he went over to check on her.

There, Mr Guerrier found his beloved in a pool of blood on the property's driveway.

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Paying tribute to the deceased, one friend said Karen was as a "strong businesswoman who had an air of authority about her".

Another said she did not have "any enemies".

It was understood that Ms Carter had only seen her husband a handful of times over the past few years.

Mr Carter was said to have denied the divorce.

Prosecutors confirmed the news of Ms Carter's relationship with Mr Guerrier caused him to feel "a sense of betrayal".

Her new lover, who was a former executive at Fujitsu, was described as her "confidant" and said any romance would have been "very discreet".

It was said Ms Carter was seeking to settle in the rural village with her lover.

The small village of Trémolat can be found along the river of Dordogne, and has not seen any serious crime for more than half a century.

As of 2024, the tiny hub is home to 624 residents.

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