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Man arrested in murder inquiry after British retiree found dead outside home in France
Three others being sought. The victim has been named
A British retiree found dead outside his isolated home in rural Gers has been named as 85-year-old John Agner.
A 60-year-old man has been arrested in connection with his death, while three other men are being sought, according to reports citing AFP.
French authorities have not publicly disclosed the arrested man's alleged role or confirmed whether the other three men are suspected of involvement in Mr Agner's death.
The investigation into suspected intentional homicide is being led by the criminal division of the Agen prosecutor's office, which has declined to comment.
What is known so far
The case began in the early hours of Saturday, September 26, when police attempted to stop a car reportedly travelling over 120km/h in a 50km/h zone in Mont-de-Marsan.
The driver failed to stop, leading to a pursuit that lasted around 20 minutes, police told France Bleu.
Four people fled on foot. A 60-year-old man was subsequently arrested and transferred to Agen, while three others are being actively sought.
Police traced the car to Mr Agner, who lived in Verlus, around 45km from Mont-de-Marsan. Gendarmes went to his home and found him dead outside the property.
A forensic doctor found that Mr Agner had suffered “very violent blows” to the face. The deputy prosecutor said these were probably responsible for his death, pending an autopsy.
The Auch prosecutor's office said Mr Agner's car had been stolen and opened an investigation into suspected intentional homicide.
The case was subsequently transferred from the Auch prosecutor's office to the criminal division in Agen.
There has been no official explanation for the motive behind Mr Agner's death.
French media have reported that little appeared to have been taken from the property, although earlier reports said investigators had found signs of a struggle inside the house.
The Agen prosecutor's office has not disclosed further details about the arrested man or his alleged role. It has also not publicly confirmed the identities or roles of the three other people being sought.
The information made public so far does not establish a motive or whether Mr Agner was specifically targeted.
‘He must have been targeted’
Mr Agner was a retired woodworker who had previously lived in Southampton, as well as elsewhere in France and Canada, according to La Dépêche.
He had lived in Verlus for around 20 years with his wife, who had been in hospital since July. He had been living alone at the time of his death.
Verlus mayor Jean Menvielle told The Connexion that the couple “never had any problems and kept to themselves”.
He said the tiny village of around 120 inhabitants was “reeling under the shock” of Mr Agner's death.
“We do not understand why it happened to him,” Mr Menvielle said. ”It makes no sense.”
“But for this to happen here it feels like he must have been targeted.”
British media have also reported that Mr Agner was a member of the Confraternity of St James and enjoyed walking historic pilgrimage routes in France and Spain.
