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DORDOGNE

Dordogne: Dutch woman ‘kills partner with axe’

A Dutch woman was arrested in the Dordogne by French police this weekend on suspicion of murdering her German partner - an ex-member of the French foreign legion - with an axe, following an angry exchange.

Published: 12 August 2013 11:21 CEST
Dordogne: Dutch woman 'kills partner with axe'
Dutch woman has been arrested on suspicion of killing her partner by an axe blow to his neck. Photo: Inventor Chris/Flickr

The 55-year-old Dutch woman is alleged to have killed her partner on Friday in the Dordogne region of southern France by a fatal blow of an axe to his neck.

According to French police, the incident took place between 8pm and 9pm at the couple’s home following a violent dispute between the couple.

After being arrested, AFP reports that the woman told officers she wielded the axe after feeling threatened.

After the fight she ran to her neighbour’s house, who then alerted the emergency services. Paramedics were on the scene within minutes but were unable to savethe man.

Neighbours of the couple have been left stunned by the death.

“I’m shocked by what happened,” a neighbour told AFP. “I didn’t hear anything at all, everything was quiet. I used to say hello and goodbye to the woman but I did not speak much with the man, who did not speak French."

The woman remained in police custody over the weekend.

by Naomi Firscht

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DORDOGNE

French couple told they cannot raffle off their Dordogne mansion for €13

A French couple hoping to sell their luxurious countryside mansion via a €13 raffle has been forced to suspend the competition after France's online gaming authorities stepped in.

Published: 12 April 2019 09:41 CEST
French couple told they cannot raffle off their Dordogne mansion for €13
How Brigitte and Christophe Demassougne first marketed the lottery.

Brigitte and Christophe Demassougne originally put their sprawling guest house in Cenac-et-Saint-Julien, around 80 kilometres southeast of Perigueux in the Dordogne region, on the market with an estimated value of more than €1.5 million.

The 18th-century residence, known as a Chartreuse, includes stables, a tennis court and a private pool amid lush gardens.

To drum up wider interest they launched an online quiz offering the resort to the lucky winner.

After purchasing a €13 ticket, contestants were given two questions and shown three objects whose value they had to estimate.

The not-exactly-brainteasers sought the names of a castle in the northern Perigord region (“Versailles” isn't the correct answer) and the name of the river that runs through the town of Roque-Gageac – it's the Dordogne.

The objects were trickier: An antique book of calligraphy, a pair of polished Chelsea boots, and a 18-Karat gold bracelet.

Since its launch on April 1, nearly 20,000 people had signed up, raising €260,000, from as far away as Canada and Australia, as well as Britain where holidaymakers have long favoured the Dordogne region, Brigitte Demassougne told AFP.

On Thursday, however, the couple received a letter from the ARJEL online gaming regulator ordering the competition shut down, citing a 2014 law that forbids games of chance based on individual expertise.

It gave the couple eight days to prove the contrary, and although they will try to prove they acted in good faith, Brigitte Demassougne said she was “pessimistic” about her chances.

She promised that all the players would get their money back.

“People called and wrote to congratulate us and support us, saying 'Even if we don't win, you've given us a chance to dream!'” she said.

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