Cédric Jubillar, 38, who was convicted of murdering his wife Delphine Jubillar, 33, has confessed from his jail cell to killing her, his lawyer announced. The confession comes more than two months before his appeal trial was scheduled to begin.
Delphine Jubillar, a nurse, disappeared from their rural home in southern France in December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her body was never recovered, and Cédric Jubillar had consistently maintained his innocence throughout the investigation and trial.
In a significant development, Jubillar has now admitted his involvement and stated his intention to cooperate with judicial authorities to reveal the location where her body was hidden on the night of December 15-16, 2020. His lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, expressed hope that this confession would allow the couple's two young children to grieve and give Delphine a proper burial.
Debuisson stated that his client expressed deep regret for his actions, calling it the worst thing he had done in his life. Details regarding the method of Delphine Jubillar's death remain unclear. The defense team now believes the scheduled September appeal trial is impossible, as Jubillar will need to be re-interrogated and searches for the body will need to be conducted.
Jubillar was sentenced to 30 years in prison in October based on a collection of corroborating evidence, despite the absence of a body or DNA evidence directly linking him to the crime. The case had baffled investigators and captivated the French public.
Prosecutors had argued that Jubillar murdered his wife in a fit of rage after she requested a divorce and was involved in an affair. Evidence presented during the trial included testimony from Jubillar's relatives, including his mother, who recalled him saying he would kill his wife and bury her where she would not be found. A letter from the couple's son, read in court, accused Jubillar of mistreating his mother and himself, and recalled witnessing the couple arguing about their separation the night of Delphine's disappearance.
During the initial investigation following Delphine Jubillar's disappearance, a large-scale manhunt was launched, involving over 1,000 people and divers searching nearby waterways. Despite extensive searches, no trace of Delphine was found.
Malika Chmani, a lawyer representing the couple's two children, expressed relief and emphasized the importance of Jubillar revealing the body's location.
