Couple charged with murdering 21-year-old nanny
A British couple charged in September last year with the murder of their French au pair, 21-year-old Sophie Lionnet, have admitted to burning her body. They continue to deny being responsible for her death, however. Lionnet's body was found badly burnt in the garden of their home in south London almost four months ago.
40-year-old Ouissem Medouni and 34-year-old Sabrina Kouider from Wandsworth have been held in police custody ever since neighbours reported witnessing a large fire with "weird-smelling" smoke back in September, reports the Evening Standard.
When firefighters arrived to investigate, they made a grim discovery. In amongst the bonfire was a body burnt so badly, it was initially impossible to establish the age or gender of the deceased. The body was later identified as that of Sophie Lionnet.
Police were called to investigate, and Medouni and Kouider were subsequently taken in to custody. Appearing at the Old Bailey yesterday (Friday 12 January), the couple both pleaded guilty to a charge of perverting the course of justice by attempting to "dispose of the body of Sophie Lionnet by burning". Both defendants deny murdering the young woman.
Sophie Lionnet, from Troyes in north-eastern France, had been living in London for the past 14 months, learning English and working as a nanny for the couple, who have a six-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter.
Neighbours were understandably shocked at what had happened. One, speaking to the Evening Standard, said: "We complained to our landlord the day before about a bad smell. It was like a gas leak. He came in and had a look around but didn’t see anything."
Describing the family, the neighbour said: "They seemed quite normal but they always do. We would hear them having really loud arguments below. There would be a woman’s screams."
A friend of Sophie's had told the Daily Mail the French nanny "found it very difficult" living in London. "Sophie had been unhappy for a long time – so unhappy she left to stay with one of her few friends for two nights last month," said the friend.
"She had finally decided to go home though, and had just asked her mum to send her £40 so she could afford the fare. She was supposed to have gone back on Monday. She never arrived."
Medouni and Kouider will begin a five-week trial on March 19.
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