Couple admit burning the body of missing French au pair
A COUPLE have admitted burning the body of a French au pair whose remains were found in the garden of a £1 million London home.
But Sabrina Kouider, 35, a fashion designer, and Ouissem Medouni, 40, both deny murdering the nanny, 21-year-old Sophie Lionnet.
The pair are alleged to have killed Ms Lionnet last year. Her remains were found in a garden at Southfields, south west London, in September.
They entered not guilty pleas to murder during a brief hearing at the Old Bailey yesterday but both admitted a second charge, of perverting the course of justice. They pleaded guilty to the charge that they “attempted to dispose of the body of Sophie Lionnet by burning, intending that the course of public justice should be perverted”.
Ms Kouider appeared in the dock wearing a white blouse and black jacket with Mr Medouni, who wore a jumper and had a shaved head. They spoke only to confirm names and enter pleas.
Detectives initially could not identify the age or gender of Ms Lionnet’s body. She was later formally identified as the au pair from Troyes, France. Ms Kouider, of Southfields, and Mr Medouni, of the same address, were remanded in custody. They face a five-week trial due to start on March 19.
In September, forensics officers were seen removing a body from the garden after emergency services were called following reports of a fire.
According to neighbours, Ms Lionnet, who had been living in London for 14 months to learn English, had not been seen since “late August”.