Gardener convicted of lover’s murder

Gardener Jean-Louis Cayrou has been found guilty of the premeditated murder of his British expat lover Patricia Wilson at her rural French home in August 2012.

Cayrou, 54, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing Ms Wilson, 58, following the collapse of their relationship, after the jury deliberated at the Cour d’Assises de l’Aveyron in Rodez, south France.

Gasps were heard from members of his family as he received his sentence, which he has 10 days to appeal. Ms Wilson’s mother, Jean Wilson, 84, said “justice has finally been done” after the verdict.

Cayrou is believed to have cut the electricity at Ms Wilson’s home near the village of Vabre-Tizac, in the Aveyron region of south-west France, after she returned from visiting her mother in England on August 17, 2012.

He entered the property and killed Ms Wilson, hitting her “very violently” at least twice and possibly with a weapon, general lawyer Manon Brignol said in her closing statement.

Ms Wilson’s body has never been found .