French Pizza Chef Accused of Killing Man Before Dismembering and Cooking Body Parts in Pot of Vegetables: Reports
A French pizza chef confessed to killing a 60-year-old man at his isolated home in the village of Brasc, according to reports
Philippe Schneider has been accused of killing, dismembering and cooking parts of Georges Meichler's body before "scattering his remains on his land," Le Parisien reported
He allegedly cooked the victim's limbs in a pot of vegetables to "mask the odor," per The Telegraph; he's accused alongside his partner and an alleged gravedigger, who have both denied involvement in the crimesA French pizza chef has been accused of killing a man before chopping up his body and cooking some of it with vegetables in a bid to "mask the odor," according to reports.
Former butcher Philippe Schneider, 69, allegedly confessed to killing Georges Meichler, 60, who lived as a recluse in the village of Brasc, France in February 2023, per The Telegraph.
On Monday, May 19, Schneider appeared at the Rodez Assize Court, where he's being tried for killing, dismembering and cooking parts of Meichler's body before "scattering his remains on his land," Le Parisien reported.
Schneider is accused of the killing alongside his partner Nathalie Caboubassy, 45, The Telegraph noted. The pair reportedly moved to the region in 2019; he eventually opened a pizzeria called Don Filiippo in Saint-Sernin-sur-Rance, the outlet stated.
Schneider reportedly admitted to killing the victim, while Caboubassy denies involvement, according to The Telegraph. A third suspect, gravedigger Loup Benrakia, has also denied involvement, the outlet reported.
Per Le Figaro, Schneider wanted to steal money and cannabis from Meichler's isolated house in the woods. However the attempt ended with the victim being "tied up, gagged and beaten."
Schneider claimed the victim suffocated. He said that he took the body back to his house and waited three days to 'respect the transmigration of the soul,' per The Telegraph. He allegedly dismembered Meichler's body before burning his organs. He later returned to the victim's house where he reportedly "cooked the other limbs in large pots with vegetables to mask the odor," the outlet reported.
Le Figaro added that Schneider had allegedly "cut up the body, cooked it and then incinerated it in the victim's wood stove and garden."
The suspect reportedly told investigators that he'd scattered the victim's ashes across the property after burning his head, hands and feet, The Telegraph stated.
"I have no words to express my guilt and my many regrets, but I understand the anger and disgust I can evoke. I offer my sincere apologies to the family. This is an act of madness that should never have happened. I plead guilty to all the charges against me," Schneider said, according to Le Parisien.
Lawyer Luc Abratkiewicz said, 'Philippe Schneider acknowledges his full responsibility and all the facts he is accused of,' per The Telegraph.
'Philippe Schneider's version is that at the time he lived a life of alcohol, drugs, and then this completely crazy idea of going to burgle his neighbour. He gags him. It goes badly, he dies... He made a serious mistake. Afterward, he continued to sink into absurdity and horror, because the fact of having cut up this corpse is going to cost them dearly," the lawyer added, according to the outlet.
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Yannick Mamodabasse, a lawyer representing Meichler's family members, said, "These are terrible events, and it's still very painful for the family. That's all I'll say before the hearing in this extraordinary case," per Le Parisien.
Schneider has been charged with kidnapping leading to death, concealment of a corpse and endangering the integrity of the corpse, per The Telegraph; Caboubassy and Benrakia were charged with complicity.
The trial is expected to run until Thursday, May 22, per Le Parisien.
The Rodez Assize Court and Mamodabasse didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment.
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