Frenchman jailed in missing body case confesses to killing wife, says lawyer

TOULOUSE, July 7 — A Frenchman convicted of the murder of his wife who disappeared over half-a-decade ago but whose body was never found has confessed from his jail cell to killing her, his lawyer said yesterday.

Cedric Jubillar, 38, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in October for murdering Delphine Jubillar, 33, following a trial that gripped France in which he always maintained his innocence.

Delphine went missing in rural southern France in December 2020 at the height of the Covid pandemic but her body was never found.

In a dramatic about-turn just over two months before his appeal was due to be heard, Jubillar has written a “confession” for the first time admitting his involvement, his lawyer Pierre Debuisson told a news conference.

Jubillar is ready to “cooperate fully with the judicial authorities” and tell investigators where the body is located after hiding the corpse on the night of December 15 to 16 2020, he said.

He expressed hope that Jubillar’s move will allow their two young children to “grieve and give Delphine a proper burial”, adding he client “clearly regrets” his actions.

“It was the worst thing he did in his life,” the lawyer added.

His legal team now believe it is impossible that the appeal trial can take place as scheduled in September, as their client will need to be re-interrogated and searches for the body take place.

Debuisson said Jubillar would give further details when interrogated.

In his confession letter, he mentions a dispute between the couple but does not give further details.

Jubillar “never intended to kill his wife”, the lawyer said in a TV interview later on Monday, implying he could be seeking to have his sentence reduced.

He was convicted on the basis of a string of corroborating evidence, despite the lack of a body or any DNA evidence linking him to the crime. The trial heard Delphine asked for a divorce while having an affair with another man.

“We are relieved for the children,” said Malika Chmani, lawyer for the two young children.

“Now it is important that he tells us where the body is. I believe that is what will happen — at any rate, that is what we hope for,” she added. — AFP