Brit husband suspected of killing wife 'found with rope around neck' in southern France
A British man is suspected of killing his wife at their home in France before taking his own life.
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Police launched a murder investigation after a 65-year-old woman, also British, was found dead with a rope around her neck.
There were signs she had been strangled and suffered blows to her body.
Her 64-year-old husband was also found dead, with a prosecutor saying he appeared to have hanged himself.
Their bodies were discovered on Sunday at their home in Boudrac, a small town in the Haute-Garonne department, after friends became worried when they hadn't heard from the couple for days.
Prosecutor Christophe Amunzateguy said: "She has been dead for some days and had a rope around her neck.
"Wounds were also found on her body – there were signs of strangulation and blows."
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Police found the husband's body in an outhouse the couple had transformed into a bed and breakfast, and Mr Amunzateguy said that authorities believed it was a "wife killing", having ruled out the potential of her taking her own life.
"He was found hanged, and had left a note.
"The couple had a project to open a guesthouse but it was ended because of financial difficulties."
He added that there was no evidence a third party was involved.
The couple, who bought the house about a year-and-a-half ago, were thought of as a couple who caused no problems and followed the law, Mr Amunzateguy said.
Autopsies will be carried out on Tuesday.