Two men detained over death of British retiree in south-west France

Two men have been arrested and charged over the death of British retiree John Agner, whose body was found outside his remote home in south-west France in September.

The men, aged 31 and 26, are suspected of robbery involving violence resulting in death, announced Agen prosecutor Olivier Naboulet on Saturday (October 10).

Six people were arrested during the investigation, which accelerated after one of the principal suspects was implicated in a separate attempted murder earlier this month.

Mr Agner, 84, was found dead outside his home in the rural commune of Verlus in the Gers on September 26. He had multiple wounds to the face.

Separate attack led to arrests

One of the suspects was arrested in Dax, Landes, following an attempted murder in nearby Mont-de-Marsan on October 6. No details of this second case have been made public.

The 31-year-old, who lives in Landes, has 21 previous convictions, most of them for theft.

He has been placed under formal investigation in connection with both Mr Agner's death and the October 6 attempted murder.

His arrest prompted a wider operation, with two other suspects detained that day between Mont-de-Marsan and Auch, followed by three more the next day.

The prosecutor said searches and questioning had strengthened investigators' initial findings, with suspects acknowledging involvement to varying degrees.

The second suspect, aged 26 and living in Gers, has no previous convictions. Both men have been remanded in custody.

A third person, aged 38, has been placed under formal investigation for alleged complicity in the Mont-de-Marsan attempted murder and remains under judicial supervision.

British victim's car led police to his home

The investigation began in the early hours of September 26, when police in Mont-de-Marsan attempted to stop a car whose occupants refused to comply.

The vehicle was subsequently abandoned and its occupants fled on foot.

Police traced the car to Mr Agner and alerted gendarmes in Gers, who went to his home in Verlus, a commune of around 120 inhabitants.

They found his body outside the property. Earlier reports indicated that investigators had also discovered signs of a struggle inside the house.

An investigation initially opened in Auch for suspected murder and group theft was transferred to Agen, where an investigating judge was appointed on September 27.

The precise circumstances of Mr Agner's death remain under investigation.

Mr Agner, a retired woodworker who previously lived in Southampton, had lived in Verlus with his wife for around 20 years. He had been living alone since she was admitted to hospital in July.

Verlus mayor Jean Menvielle previously told The Connexion that the village was shocked by his death.

“We do not understand why it happened to him. It makes no sense,” he said.