‘Psychotic’ Frenchman killed Briton who asked for Sellotape
A BRITISH woman’s dream retirement in rural France ended in her murder when a psychotic neighbour killed her after she asked to borrow some Sellotape, a court has heard.
Susan Higginbotham, 67, was found dead in September 2021 at her home in Esclottes, a village of just 150 people about 35 miles east of Bordeaux.
She had been attacked by her neighbour, Hichame Bahloul, 42, who on Wednesday was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The court was told he wanted to be sent to jail for life to get away from his family.
The Lot-et-garonne Assize court heard Bahloul “snapped” and become enraged after Ms Higginbotham reportedly asked him to borrow Sellotape several times in one day.
Before that, she was reportedly on polite speaking terms with him, and there were no reports of conflict between them.
Bahloul told the court that he went over to Ms Higginbotham’s house on the day of the attack with some “cord”, which he then used to strangle her before punching and kicking her in the chest.
The killer reportedly suffers from several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, and has spent many years in hospital care.
He attacked many people while in a psychiatric unit, including patients and nursing staff. “He took pleasure in it,” said the prosecution.
But at the time of the fatal attack, he had been back living with his parents in Esclottes for six months. After he killed Ms Higginbotham he said he had done it as a way to get away from his family.
Bahloul’s lawyer said: “I have a client who feels safe in prison and wants to stay there. He struggles with freedom.”
The state prosecutor demanded a life sentence after Bahloul told the court: “If you let me out, I’ll do it again.”
One of Ms Higginbotham’s friends, who travelled from the UK to testify, told the court: “Sue was a very pleasant person, she took care of people a lot, and was very open. She had had a successful career as a financial director, then as a company representative.
“She really wanted to be happy in France when she moved in 2016, and I think she was. She was living her dream. She was funny. I miss her a lot.”