Yahoo Finance French Gardener Jailed For Murdering Briton
A gardener has been jailed for 30 years for murdering his British expat lover in her rural French home.
Jean-Louis Cayrou, 54, killed Patricia Wilson, 58, following the collapse of their relationship.
A jury deliberated for almost five hours at the Cour d'Assises de l'Aveyron in Rodez, south France, before returning a guilty verdict.
Gasps were heard from members of his family as he received his sentence, which he has 10 days to appeal.
Patricia's mother, Jean Wilson, 84, said "justice has finally been done" following the verdict.
Cayrou is believed to have cut the electricity at Patricia's home near the village of Vabre-Tizac, in the Aveyron region of southwest France, after she returned from visiting her mother in England on 17 August 2012.
He entered the property and hit her "very violently" at least twice.
Cayrou, described as "dominating" and "unstable", left a trail of blood through the isolated French house, leading down the steps outside.
He is then believed to have loaded Patricia's body into his car.
His prints and DNA were found at the crime scene and traces of the victim's blood were discovered in his car.
Patricia's body has never been found and Cayrou's refusal to disclose where he hid it has been condemned by the prosecution.
In a written statement released following the verdict, Jean Wilson said the result was "tinged with sadness" - as she would still have to live without her "perfect daughter".
"I think about her and the terrible circumstances of her death every day," she said.
"I am pleased that justice has finally been done and that Mr Cayrou has been found guilty of this horrific crime."
Patricia was originally from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, before moving to France with her partner Donald Marcus in 2008.
Mr Marcus returned to England in 2011 to receive medical treatment after developing the early symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Patricia, who was retired, then began a relationship with her gardener, Cayrou, in the spring of 2012.
Her friend, Fiona McKinley, 61, told the court that Patricia was initially happy with Cayrou.
But he "turned into a jealous, possessive person, who wanted her to himself" and their relationship deteriorated.
Ms Brignol said she believed Patricia considered Cayrou as a "sex friend" and "nothing more".
He could not accept the end of their relationship, the court heard.
Mrs Wilson's death came just weeks after she told friends that Cayrou had broken into her house in the middle of the night.
The killer apparently climbed on to her bed and attempted to suffocate her.
He was said to have told her: "I am doing this to show that you need a man in the house."
