Latest news with #CaféVillage
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Cafe that may hold key to French murder of British woman who worked there 'with secret lover' reopens exactly one month after the killing
A village café that may hold the key to finding the killer of a British woman in south west France has reopened – exactly a month after the savage murder. Karen Carter, 65 and a married mother of four, was found dead outside her home in Trémolat, east of Bordeaux, following a night out with friends on April 29th. The Café Village, where she worked part time behind the bar along with an alleged secret lover, was immediately 'shut indefinitely'. Investigators leading the investigation feared that someone who held a grudge against Ms Carter – or 'the new couple' she was forming with Jean-François Guerrier, 74 – may have come to know her at the hugely popular social centre. Yet – despite the killer not being caught and locals fearing he or she may have 'strong connections' with the café – it was back in business last week. 'Regular opening' resumed on May 28th, according to management, with events including pop music concerts and quiz nights. Mr Guerrier, who was president of the community association which ran the Café Village, was arrested and questioned at length following the murder, before being released without charge. It was Mr Guerrier who found Ms Carter outside her home, covered with stab wounds, before failing to revive her. He confirmed Ms Carter had spent the night at a 'wine tasting evening' at his house, but failed to telephone him when she got home, and so he went to investigate. In December, Ms Carter was filming dancing with Mr Guerrier at the Café Village, to Gloria Gaynor's disco anthem, I Will Survive. In turn, Ms Carter's 65-year-old husband, Alan Carter, who spends most of his time in South Africa, said he was unaware of their relationship. He said he knew nothing about it until it was publicly announced by the French authorities, saying he had 'a feeling of complete betrayal.' Despite the enquiry into Ms Carter's death being upgraded to a full-blown murder enquiry earlier this month, there is a still no sign of the killer – or the murder weapon used. This has led prosecutors to believe that it was a meticulously planned crime, carried out by someone who knew Ms Carter. He or she lay in wait, they believe, and took care to avoid leaving forensic evidence, before using 'unspeakable violence' against the defenceless Ms Carter, according an investigating source. 'It certainly could have been someone who knew the victim from the Café Village, or a contract killer acting on their behalf,' the source added. Despite searches in the area, and two arrests including of Mr Guerrier, no serious suspect has yet emerged. Bergerac prosecutors opened the initial investigation, without focusing on a single motive. They confirmed that Ms Carter suffered eight severe stab wounds, and said she could have died because of 'a grudge' against her and Mr Guerrier, motivated by their secret affair. Frustrated with the lack of progress, prosecutors announced in early May that a 'judicial investigation into murder' was being opened. This meant that an instructing judge in Périgueux had stronger powers to interview people, to request documents, and to liaise with overseas authorities. Ms Carter had British and South African nationality, and her husband was at their home in East London, South Africa, at the time of the killing. He arrived in Trémolat soon afterwards, and visited the scene of the suspected murder, before organising his wife's funeral, which took place in Bergerac earlier this month. Mr Guerrier has meanwhile declined to speak at length, saying: 'Karen was a lovely lady, but I can't answer any more questions at the moment.' He has confirmed hosting a party at his converted farmhouse, close to the village, just before Ms Carter's death. She left the wind-tasting evening at 10pm, and had promised to phone Mr Guerrier when she got home. Concerned when he heard nothing, Mr Guerrier, a former managing director of Fujitsu Services who worked in Britain at one point, drove to check on her, and found her body sprawled on the driveway of the property she ran as a rental business. Despite attempts to save her, Ms Carter died from severe blood loss, after being stabbed in the chest, groin, arm and leg, according to an autopsy. Police also initially arrested a neighbour of Mrs Carter, 69-year-old Marie Laure Autefort, but released her when she was able to provide an alibi. Her brother, Philippe Monribot, said she was infatuated with Mr Guerrier – but he insisted she was not capable of killing Mrs Carter. 'My sister is innocent. She is devastated by what has happened,' said Mr Monribot. Ms Carter had lived in the Dordogne for more than a decade, and was a member of a women's over-50s football team called the Queens of Football (Reines du Foot) Joëlle Mayer, who worked part time with Ms Carter at the Café Village, said: 'She was a charming, relaxed person, happy to be alive, smiling, and loved by everyone here. 'The town has a very active community life, and she was part of it. She participated in all the activities of the community café.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Husband of British woman killed in France speaks out over wife's death
The husband of a British-South African expatriate killed in the Dordogne has spoken out over his wife's death after visiting the scene for the first time. Karen Carter, a 65-year-old mother-of-four, was stabbed to death near the front porch of the gîte she rented to holidaymakers on the outskirts of Trémolat, a small village east of Bordeaux. French prosecutors believe that the killer may have harboured a grudge against either Mrs Carter or the French lover with whom she was rumoured to have been having an affair with at the time of her death. Jean-François Guerrier was rumoured to have been having an affair with Karen Carter at the time of her death - Paul Grover Her husband, Alan Carter, 65, spoke with the Telegraph the day after he landed in Trémolat from South Africa and visited the site of the attack. In a brief three-minute long conversation on Wednesday morning, he said: 'We are just trying to come to terms with what happened. We have all of the grief. We have spent the last few hours in Trémolat. It has been very difficult coming back to the village. 'We are still struggling with everything,' he added. Mr Carter visited the gîte, which remains cordoned off by the gendarmerie, on Tuesday evening Accompanied by a family friend, who had travelled with him from East London, Mr Carter looked over the police tape, paused for reflection for five minutes and surveyed the scene of the attack before walking back to his car and driving away. 0705 Dordogne murder A large pool of dried blood remains visible on the white gravel driveway. On the ground, just outside the police tape, a pale green vase filled with roses and white trumpet lilies has been left in tribute. Mr Carter's companion, who did not wish to be identified, told the Telegraph: 'They are a large family stretched across continents, and all of us adults and children, are still in shock at what has happened. 'We just want to respect the investigation.' Mrs Carter was found stabbed outside her guest house in the French village of Trémolat, east of Bordeaux - Paul Grover Jean-François Guerrier, a 74-year-old retired Fujitsu executive, is understood to have been in a relationship with Mrs Carter for a number of weeks before the attack. Mr Carter has said he was unaware of their relationship until it was publicly announced by the French prosecutor leading the investigation and has described a 'feeling of betrayal'. Mrs Carter and Mr Guerrier had both run the Café Village together, a community hub and watering hole in the centre of the village. Mr Guerrier was the first to discover Mrs Carter and call the police as she lay dying next to her car with eight stab wounds to her 'chest, groin, arm and leg'. He was later questioned and released without charge. 'Wrongly accused' Mr Guerrier has declined to comment on the case or the nature of their relationship but said Mrs Carter was a 'lovely lady' when approached by journalists at his farmhouse. Police arrested Marie Laure Autefort, a local 69-year-old retired carer and amateur genealogist but released her shortly afterwards without charge. Her brother told The Telegraph that she was detained because she had become infatuated with Mr Guerrier following her divorce and was viewed as a potential love rival. Philippe Monribot said: 'She was wrongly accused. And I want to say that loud and clear. All I know is that she's in a very, very bad way and won't get over this accusation.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Husband of Brit woman 'murdered' in France slams her 'complete betrayal'
Mum-of-four Karen Carter, 65, was found dead outside her property in Tremolat, southwestern France after suffering multiple stab wounds - her husband said police discovered she was having an affair The husband of a British woman allegedly murdered in France has said he feels 'betrayed' after police were reported to have uncovered an affair during their investigation. Mother-of-four Karen Carter, 65, was found bleeding with multiple 'deep' stab wounds outside her property in the quiet village of Tremolat, to the east of Bordeaux, last Tuesday. Despite paramedics' best efforts, the British expat was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering a "cardio-respiratory arrest". French police have since arrested a 69-year-old woman, said to be within Mrs Carter's social circle, in connection with the killing. Her husband, Alan Carter, only found out about the death from a phone call he received back in the UK - and claims he has since been given further shocking news. He said police investigating her death had uncovered a secret relationship between Karen and retired French businessman Jean-François Guerrier - one which the husband said he already had suspicions about. It was Mr Guerrier bleeding out in the driveway of her holiday home on April 29 after they'd spent the evening with others at a wine-tasting event. Alan Carter, 65, told The Times said detectives' enquiries had confirmed "a relationship I did not want to believe", and that becoming aware of the affair left him with "a feeling of complete betrayal". He added that he had challenged Karen about the amount of time she was spending with Jean-François on numerous occasions, but that any romantic element had "been denied to me repeatedly." Mr Carter said that rumours had already been circulating about the pair by the time he confronted her, but she had told both him and her friends that "there was nothing in it". Karen, a retired teacher, had started up a holiday business in Trémolat around a decade ago, and met Jean-Francois while volunteering at the Café Village, a local bar and eatery. Alan explained: "It was so obvious that Jean-François had an affection for Karen, and I feel he took advantage of the time we were spending apart." "I felt the Café Village attracted a lonely bunch of people who had nothing else to throw their lives into. I felt they were having a strong influence on Karen, and she really did not know that much about them." The husband said said he was staying at the couple's home in East London last Wednesday when his cousin rang him and told him about Karen's death. An autopsy revealed Karen suffered from eight serious wounds - including to her chest, forearm and abdomen - and died "by haemorrhage following a wound to the aorta". The report added: "All the wounds suggest the victim was attempting to defend herself from a frenzied attack."
Metro
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
British mum seen dancing with French lover months before she was fatally stabbed
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A British mother who was stabbed to death in France is seen smiling and dancing with her boyfriend in a video taken five months ago. Footage shows Karen Carter throwing her arms up in the air to Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive' with businessman Jean-Francois Guerrier in the middle of a packed dance floor. It was taken in December outside Café Village in Trémolat where the pair worked closely together at a fish and chip van right outside of the bar. Karen, 65, was found viciously stabbed to death by Jean-Francois outside of her home last week over her chest, groin, arm and leg as she was returning from a village wine tasting with friends. The mum-of-four had tried to defend against the 'frenzied attack,' which left her with catastrophic wounds, including to her aorta, the autopsy found. Investigators believe her killer might have been motivated by a grudge. Karen had promised to call Jean-Francois when she got home safe, but when the call never arrived, he drove to her house and discovered hey laying in a pool of blood near the holiday properties she rented with her husband, MailOnline reports. A friend described Karen as 'a strong businesswoman who had an air of authority about her'. She claimed Karen was 'trying to divorce her husband in South Africa but he wasn't keen on that'. Her husband Alan Carter had been expected to fly to France from South Africa yesterday afternoon. Karen had travelled to Trémolat, 65 miles east of Bordeaux, by herself last month and had been spending time alone in the French countryside. The friend told the Mail on Sunday: 'Karen had apparently been in a relationship with Jean-Francois Guerrier for a few weeks. It was really early days. 'By all accounts, she was very happy in that new relationship but she kept it quiet and was quite modest about it.' Jean-Francois was initially questioned but subsequently released by French authorities. Alan had been unaware of the pair's relationship, and said it had left him with 'a feeling of complete betrayal'. He told The Times: 'It was so obvious that Jean-François had an affection for Karen, and I feel he took advantage of the time we were spending apart. 'I felt the Café Village attracted a lonely bunch of people who had nothing else to throw their lives into. I felt they were having a strong influence on Karen, and she really did not know that much about them.' The husband and wife had last spoke on the morning of her death, and only learnt about the murder from a cousin who had a read a post on Facebook. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Boy, 7, drives his little sister on a mission to McDonald's in his mom's SUV MORE: Passenger killed in 'fight' on cruise ship once used for murder mystery drama MORE: New direct train links European capital city with 3 'stunning' destinations for first time
Telegraph
05-05-2025
- Telegraph
Murdered Dordogne Briton seen dancing with lover months before killing
A British woman killed outside her gîte in the Dordogne was filmed dancing with her secret French lover months before her death. Karen Carter, 65, was found dead near the front porch of the home she rented to holidaymakers in the village of Trémolat, east of Bordeaux. The mother-of-four was discovered sprawled on the ground next to her car on Tuesday evening, with eight stab wounds on her 'chest, groin, arm and leg' by Jean-Francois Guerrier, a 74-year-old retired Fujitsu executive, with whom she had attended a wine-tasting earlier. French prosecutors leading the murder investigation said the pair were in a relationship at the time of her death. Her death has been described as a ' crime of passion '. 'Feeling of betrayal' Mrs Carter's husband, Alan Carter, who is in South Africa, said he was unaware of the relationship until it was publicly announced by French authorities and has described 'a feeling of complete betrayal'. Police are pursuing the theory that the killer may have harboured a grudge against either the couple or Mrs Carter individually. The Telegraph has found footage of Mrs Carter and Mr Guerrier dancing with each other at a party hosted outside the Café Village, an eatery and community hub in Trémolat where they regularly volunteered. In a video, posted on December 13, 2024, onto the Cafe Village Facebook page, Mrs Carter, wearing a black top and cream trousers can be seen bumping hips and singing along to Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive' with Mr Guerrier, wearing a green jumper and dark trousers, next to a dozen or so locals. The video suggests their relationship may have been publicly known among locals despite Mrs Carter's husband being unaware. The Telegraph cannot show the video due to French privacy laws. Mrs Carter was of dual South African and British nationality. Speaking from his home in East London on South Africa's south-eastern coast, Mr Carter told the Times: 'What has come out of this investigation has confirmed a relationship I did not want to believe and that had been denied to me repeatedly by my wife.' Mr Carter, who has three children with Mrs Carter, said he had recently challenged her about the amount of time she was spending with Mr Guerrier, who had hosted both of them several times at his farmhouse on the edge of the village. 'I told her that the gossip was tarnishing her reputation but she batted it away and said there was nothing in it,' he told the newspaper. The Telegraph understands that Mr Carter will be arriving in Tremolat with her four children on Tuesday.
