Neighbour murdered Briton in France after she asked to borrow tape

A man who murdered a British woman at her home in south-west France has been sentenced to life in prison this week by a court in Agen (Lot-et-Garonne).

Hicham Bahloul confessed to strangling 67-year-old retiree Susan Higginbotham in her home in Esclottes, Lot-et-Garonne (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) in 2021.

He is said to have ‘snapped’ and become enraged after Ms Higginbotham reportedly asked him to borrow adhesive tape several times in one day.

She was later found strangled to death. It later emerged that Mr Bahloul had entered Ms Higginbotham’s house with intent to kill her.

No previous reported conflicts

Bahloul, 42, who reportedly suffers from several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, has spent many years in psychiatric hospital care.

Ms Higginbotham was described at the trial by a friend as happy, smiley, funny, and a good friend, who loved life and was “living her dream” in France, which she “adored”.

She was reportedly on polite speaking terms with Bahloul, and there were no reports of conflicts between them.

The court heard that Bahloul, who was living with his parents at the time of the murder, had reportedly cut all contact with his family, and had even threatened them.

He said that he committed murder as another way to put even more distance between himself and his family members, and to remain in jail.

Bahloul’s lawyer has admitted that it was the first time he had seen such a situation “in 27 years of my career”. He said: “I have a client who feels safe in prison, and wants to stay there. He struggles with freedom.”

One of Ms Higginbotham’s good friends from England was present and spoke about the victim’s move to France in 2016. She told Ouest France: “She often asked me: ‘Am I making the right decision?’, and I replied: ‘Absolutely’.”

Her brother, who lives in the UK, was unable to be at the trial due to poor health.

The state prosecutor demanded a life sentence for Bahloul, who told the court: “if you let me out I’ll do it again.”

On Wednesday, the court in Agen sentenced Bahloul to life.

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