About ten days after the macabre discovery of a woman’s dismembered body in Buttes-Chaumont park in Paris, the victim’s husband has admitted killing her and is due to appear before a coroner on Saturday for a possible charge.
• Also read: A piece of a woman’s body found in a popular park in Paris
• Also read: Other human remains found in a Paris park
The man was arrested Thursday on charges of murder, assault on the integrity of a corpse and concealing a corpse as part of an inquest opened on February 17.
At his criminal investigation hearing, he admitted killing his wife, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday.
The suspect “will be produced before a coroner (Saturday morning) for a possible charge,” a justice source said. “Prosecutors intend to apply for his placement in custody,” the source added.
The man had reported his wife’s disappearance to the police on February 6, while he had mentioned it on social media on January 31.
The dismembered body of this 46-year-old mother, who lives in Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis), in a Paris suburb, was discovered on February 13 and 14.
On Monday 13th, a plastic bag containing the pelvis and thighs was found by city parks and gardens agents under a pile of green waste in Buttes-Chaumont, in the capital’s 19th arrondissement (northeast).
According to a police source, the woman was still dressed in “blue jeans” with a “floral decoration” on her thigh.
The large hilly park, popular with walkers, was immediately cleared and searched by the police.
The next day, more remains, including the head, were found by investigators.
Less than 48 hours after finding the first part of the body, the police officers responsible for the investigation had identified the victim by analyzing his fingerprints.
Several media outlets revealed last Friday that the husband’s statements, which were considered incoherent, had aroused police suspicion. Specifically, according to continuous news channel BFMTV, the husband “indicated that she went out on the night of January 30-31, while the building’s security cameras don’t show it.”
Investigators “determined that he did not go to specific locations in the capital looking for his wife as originally claimed,” according to BFMTV.
The Paris public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into breach of professional secrecy in connection with these allegations by the broadcaster.
Created in 1867 under Napoleon III, who wanted to air Paris, the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is frequented by many joggers, weekend families or party-goers who appreciate its trendy bars.