70-year-old woman charged with murder of British expat

French prosecutors have formally charged a 70-year-old local woman with the murder of British expatriate Karen Carter, who was stabbed to death over a year ago in the tranquil village of Trémolat in the Dordogne region. The suspect, a close neighbor from the village, was charged with premeditated murder on July 2, 2026, according to the public prosecutor's office in Périgueux.

Karen Carter, 65, was found dead outside her rented guesthouse property on April 29, 2025, by her friend, Jean-François Guerrier. She had suffered eight major stab wounds to her chest, groin, arm, and leg, with one blow penetrating the aorta, causing fatal blood loss. The mother of four had been living alone in a renovated farmhouse while preparing to divorce her husband, Alan Carter, who resides in South Africa.

The suspect was first taken into custody on April 30, 2025, the day after the murder, as part of the preliminary investigation but was later released. A judicial inquiry was officially opened on May 7, 2025, leading to her formal indictment. The woman, who remains under judicial supervision due to her age, is now prohibited from staying in Trémolat.

The case has been characterized by a complex web...