Woman in police custody over murder of Briton in Dordogne

Update 04.05: Police released the 69-year-old woman on May 2 after questioning to "establish her schedule" on the night of the murder, the procurer says. The investigation is now focussing "on people who were likely to wish ill of the victim or of her relationship with her friend, both of whom were very active in the local community."

A woman in her sixties is in police custody as part of the investigation into the fatal stabbing of a British woman at her home in Dordogne.

Karen Carter, 65, was found by a friend lying grievously wounded outside her home in Trémolat at around 22:15 on April 29. 

The mother of four and former teacher was well known locally where she owned and ran a gite business and was active in various aspects of community life.

It was initially reported that Mrs Carter was in a relationship with the friend who found her, however her husband - who lives in South Africa - has denied this.

"What I understand is that Karen went to a wine-tasting event on Tuesday night and was supposed to phone him to let him know that she had got back safely," Alan Carter told The Times.

"It was a ten-minute drive. I don't know if Karen phoned, but when he couldn't get through to her he drove to see if anything was wrong and found her unconscious next to her car."

Woman held for questioning

In a statement issued Thursday evening, the Bergerac procureur said the woman being questioned is 69 years old, lives in Trémolat and is “part of the couple’s wider circle".

She is the second person to be questioned in the case.

The friend who found Mrs Carter injured was briefly questioned by police on May 1 but released without charge. 

He told investigators that they had spent the evening with friends in the village, with Mrs Carter leaving ten minutes before him.

Investigators have not clarified the links between Mrs Carter and the woman who is in custody. It is not known whether the woman is being treated as a suspect or simply questioned for information.

The Bergerac procureur said “all hypotheses” remain under consideration. A formal investigation for murder has been opened contre X – the French legal term used when no suspect has yet been definitively identified.

Preliminary results from an autopsy conducted in Bordeaux on May 1 revealed that she had sustained eight stab wounds.

A village in shock

Mrs Carter was found with five deep wounds in what the procurer described as an “exceptionally violent” attack with “a clear intention to kill”.

The murder has shocked the small village Trémolat, population 600, where she had lived for around ten years, playing an active role in the local community.

Her husband told the BBC that he learned of his wife’s death after his cousin saw a Facebook post.

"No one had got in touch with me at all to let me know what had happened,” he said. “It's terrible. Such a small village where nothing like this ever happens."

“People love her, she has a good heart," he said. “She's the one who would bring home the lost dog, or cat, or whatever. She's that sort of person. Everyone liked her. That's why I married her. She's just lovely."

Mrs Carter was also a member of the “Reines du Foot”, a local over-50s women’s football team, who represented France at the Soccer Grannies World Cup in South Africa last month – a country Mrs Carter knew well and often returned to.

The team posted a message of tribute on Facebook, describing her as “our friend and Queen of football who leaves a huge gap in our hearts”.