Couple burned nanny’s body in the garden

FIREFIGHTERS discovered a French nanny being burned on a bonfire, but were told that her remains were a sheep carcass.

A couple are on trial accused of torturing Sophie Lionnet in the bath before throwing her body on a bonfire in the garden, as they barbecued chicken.

When Ms Lionnet’s charred remains were uncovered by firefighters in Wimbledon, south-west London, they were initially passed off as the carcass of a sheep, the Old Bailey heard yesterday. Jurors were told how the 21-yearold was murdered by Sabrina Kouider, 35, and Ouissem Medouni, 40, her partner, for “punishment and revenge”.

In the weeks before, she was subjected to a “campaign of intimidation, torture and violence” which left her completely “crushed”, the court heard.

Richard Horwell QC, prosecuting, said neighbours alerted the fire brigade after spotting a fire in the defendants’ back garden last September.

Mr Horwell said: “The fire was put out and then the burnt debris was turned over with a spade… As the ash was turned, the remains of Sophie started to appear. Medouni was asked what it was and he replied ‘it’s a sheep’.”

The defendants, who are both French nationals, deny murder but have admitted perverting the course of justice by burning the body. Medouni had claimed Miss Lionnet died by accident in the bath while he interrogated her. Kouider said that the nanny died while she was asleep.

The trial continues.