Friends of Marie-Laure Autefort, 70, who stands accused of fatally stabbing British expat Karen Carter, 65, in the Dordogne region of France, have asserted that her severe osteoarthritis would have made her incapable of carrying out the violent attack. Autefort is accused of stabbing Ms. Carter at least eight times in the village of Trémolat in April 2025, leading to Ms. Carter's death from a hemorrhage.
Sources close to Autefort describe her as physically frail, stating her condition, particularly in her hands, is so severe that she struggles to perform simple tasks like opening an envelope. They contend that the idea of her being a capable assailant who could overpower Ms. Carter is improbable. Autefort's medical condition has reportedly been verified by her doctors.
Autefort was initially arrested a day after the incident but was released after 48 hours. She was rearrested 15 months later and formally charged this month with premeditated murder. Investigators cited inconsistencies in her original alibi, describing it as vague regarding her whereabouts on the night of the attack.
Both Ms. Carter and Autefort were reportedly in love with the same man, Jean-François Guerrier, 75, a former Fujitsu executive. Ms. Carter was living in Trémolat and was reportedly on the verge of divorcing her South Africa-based husband, Alan. Autefort had recently ended her marriage to retired stonemason Jean-Claude Autefort.
Mr. Guerrier, who reportedly hosted a party attended by Ms. Carter on the night she died and later followed her home, discovered her body. He told police that he had intended to spend the night with Ms. Carter. He also directed police to investigate Autefort, describing her as having been deeply in love with him and frustrated by his relationship with Ms. Carter.
However, DNA evidence recovered from the crime scene has not matched samples taken from either Mr. Guerrier or Autefort. Autefort is currently out on bail, with conditions that include a prohibition from staying in Trémolat.