GUILTY Uk - Sophie Lionnet, 21, Body Found Burned, Wandsworth, London, 20 Sep 2017 *arrests*

[Alice253]

French couple sentenced to life for murdering au pair in London

A French couple living in London who murdered their au pair and tried to dispose of the body by burning it in their back garden have been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 30 years.

The Old Bailey court in London sentenced Sabrina Kouider, who is undergoing psychiatric treatment, and Ouissem Medouni for the September 2017 killing of 21-year-old Sophie Lionnet.

 

[Tortoise]

French couple sentenced to life for murdering au pair in London

A French couple living in London who murdered their au pair and tried to dispose of the body by burning it in their back garden have been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 30 years.

The Old Bailey court in London sentenced Sabrina Kouider, who is undergoing psychiatric treatment, and Ouissem Medouni for the September 2017 killing of 21-year-old Sophie Lionnet.

I hope Sophie's mum is eventually able to look after Sophie's brother again. What a nightmare.

 

[Alice253]

I hope Sophie's mum is eventually able to look after Sophie's brother again. What a nightmare.

Me too, Tortoise. My heart hurts so much for her family.

 

[Tortoise]

Channel 5 has a programme about this case on Tuesday night at 10pm, it's a bit soon so I doubt they'll have much insight beyond what we already know. I find their programmes are usually a bit lacking in depth, but still interesting for a roundup.

I watched this last night. It was upsetting to see Michael (I think his name was) the fish and chip shop man crying because he hadn't saved her. No one realised because it wouldn't even cross your radar that a well-dressed couple with children would torture and murder their nanny. I'm trying to think if I would have done anything different and I have to say probably not because it's only if all the people who had seen something wrong had known each other and been able to exchange and share concerns that the bigger picture would have come to light and been more alarming. I notice no one was interviewed about the incident where a chair was picked up and Sophie was kicked. I would have reported that because I would think if they do that in front of onlookers they could do worse when there isn't anyone watching.

The programme also includes some excerpts from the interrogation recordings. That sounded very eerie, almost like a wicked witch kind of act for a stage-production.

I have to say I am not convinced as the experts are by the theory that Sabrina was deluded. I don't see why, with a liar and manipulator, parts of what they say are deemed to be true and other parts are a lie to get away with a crime. There had to be a point at which Sabrina decided for herself that she was going to make up stories about Mark Walton, when he cut off the financial support. I don't buy that that goes from plan, blackmail and revenge to delusion. I think Sabrina is fooling the experts. An 'I couldn't help it' defence. I do think she has personality disorders but not delusions.

 

[Legally Bland]

I watched this last night. It was upsetting to see Michael (I think his name was) the fish and chip shop man crying because he hadn't saved her. No one realised because it wouldn't even cross your radar that a well-dressed couple with children would torture and murder their nanny. I'm trying to think if I would have done anything different and I have to say probably not because it's only if all the people who had seen something wrong had known each other and been able to exchange and share concerns that the bigger picture would have come to light and been more alarming. I notice no one was interviewed about the incident where a chair was picked up and Sophie was kicked. I would have reported that because I would think if they do that in front of onlookers they could do worse when there isn't anyone watching.

The programme also includes some excerpts from the interrogation recordings. That sounded very eerie, almost like a wicked witch kind of act for a stage-production.

I have to say I am not convinced as the experts are by the theory that Sabrina was deluded. I don't see why, with a liar and manipulator, parts of what they say are deemed to be true and other parts are a lie to get away with a crime. There had to be a point at which Sabrina decided for herself that she was going to make up stories about Mark Walton, when he cut off the financial support. I don't buy that that goes from plan, blackmail and revenge to delusion. I think Sabrina is fooling the experts. An 'I couldn't help it' defence. I do think she has personality disorders but not delusions.

I saw it too. It was upsetting about Michael, and the first time it showed him you could just tell he'd be in tears at the end. And yes, I'm not sure I'd have done anything differently either. At least he did try to help her and showed her some compassion.

When they played the interrogation recordings I'm sure it said 'reconstruction' on the screen. I don't think they were the actual recordings.

I think it was fairly detailed, but that was probably down to Emily Pennink, who I think was the AP reporter and source for about 90% of the articles written on the trial. Saying that, I don't think there was much we didn't already know.

It would have been nice to have a view from inside the investigation.

 

[Tortoise]

Ah that makes sense about the recordings. That's probably why I thought they sounded like an act.

I wonder how much the production was hampered by not being able to refer to the children.