A French court on Friday sentenced Cedric Jubillar, 38, to 30 years in prison for the murder of his wife, Delphine Jubillar, whose body has never been found since her disappearance in December 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The case, which has gripped France for nearly four years, ended with a unanimous guilty verdict delivered by a jury in Albi, southern France. The sentence matched the prosecution’s request.
Jubillar, a painter and plasterer, had long maintained his innocence, insisting he did “absolutely nothing” to his wife. He plans to appeal the ruling, according to his legal team.
As the verdict was read, Delphine’s family and friends embraced emotionally. Some wept, and one of her uncles collapsed in court.
“We’re all in shock after four years of legal proceedings,” said the family’s lawyer, Philippe Pressecq. “The jurors rose to the occasion over these four weeks. They followed the case closely and reached a decision that cannot be disputed.”
Motive: Divorce and infidelity
The jury found that Jubillar killed Delphine, a 33-year-old nurse, after she asked for a divorce and began a new relationship. Investigators concluded that an argument escalated fatally on the night of her disappearance.
Key evidence included a pair of Delphine’s broken glasses found in the couple’s home, testimony from the couple’s young son, and reports from neighbours who heard screams.
Jubillar denied all allegations.
Damning testimony
Testimony from Jubillar’s mother and two ex-girlfriends further implicated him.
His mother, Nadine Jubillar, testified that her son had threatened to kill Delphine weeks before she vanished, saying he would hide her body “where no one will ever find her.” At the time, she dismissed the comment as said in anger.
An ex-girlfriend, Jennifer, claimed that during a prison visit, Jubillar confessed to strangling Delphine in their home.
Another former partner, Severine, said he told her he buried the body at a burned-down farm — though he later claimed it was a joke.
Forensic clues and the missing body
A sniffer dog handler testified that Delphine left the house the night she disappeared, returned, and was never seen leaving again. He noted that a human body loses detectable scent within an hour of death, suggesting the possibility that her remains were moved soon after.
Despite extensive searches, Delphine’s body has never been found.
The case has drawn national attention amid growing concern over domestic violence in France. In 2023, 96 women were killed by their partners or ex-partners, according to government figures — roughly one woman every 3.8 days.
AFP
