Appeal court to review premeditation question in Jubillar murder case
Jubillar's appeal will focus on premeditation versus crime of passion—a distinction determining life sentence eligibility.
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Cédric Jubillar Murder Case
French criminal case involving Cédric Jubillar's conviction for the 2020 murder of his wife Delphine Aussaguel. After years of denial, he confessed in July 2026 to strangling her during a domestic dispute and disposing of her body. Facing life imprisonment on appeal in 2027.
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10 articles0 articles
2026-09-11 to 2026-10-31 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 11 Sept, 08:29 UTC
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What happened
Central legal question: was murder premeditated or spontaneous crime of passion
The primary investigative objective of the reconstruction was to determine whether Jubillar's crime was a spontaneous act during a domestic dispute or a premeditated killing. This distinction is legally critical, as it affects both the qualification of the crime and the sentence severity at appeal. Prior remarks by Jubillar to acquaintances—stating he would kill his wife, bury her, and that no one would find her—complicate the assessment, though he claimed these statements were made in jest.
Jubillar describes transporting wife's body to burial site by vehicle
Cédric Jubillar stated that after strangling his wife in their home, he transported her body in their Peugeot 207 vehicle to Mailhoc, approximately fifteen kilometers away, where he buried her under a mound of soil. He claimed to have discovered the burial location previously while working on a construction project.
Crime scene reconstruction conducted on October 2, 2026
A judicial reconstruction of the murder and body disposal was conducted on October 2, 2026 at 9:30 AM, beginning at the Jubillar family home in Cagnac-les-Mines where the killing occurred, then proceeding to the burial site in Mailhoc. The reconstruction involved judges, gendarmes, defense attorneys, and civil party lawyers, with Jubillar required to demonstrate and explain his actions.
Crime occurred in night of December 15-16, 2020 during COVID-19 lockdown
According to Jubillar's confession, he killed his wife during the night of December 15-16, 2020, when France was under COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. He stated he awakened around 1:30 AM, engaged in a dispute with Delphine on the couch, then strangled her until she became unresponsive.
Cédric Jubillar convicted to 30 years in first instance; faces life sentence on appeal
In autumn 2025, Cédric Jubillar was sentenced to thirty years of criminal imprisonment in first instance proceedings. On appeal, scheduled for April 30 to May 14, 2027 in Toulouse, he faces a potential life sentence (perpétuité).
Cédric Jubillar confesses to strangling wife Delphine Aussaguel after five years of denial
Cédric Jubillar, a 39-year-old painter-plasterer held in provisional detention since June 2021, confessed on July 15, 2026 to strangling his wife Delphine Aussaguel following a dispute in their home while their two children slept. He had previously denied involvement in her death for nearly six years.
Remains of Delphine Aussaguel confirmed through DNA analysis
Skeletal remains discovered on July 16, 2026 in a field at Mailhoc, approximately ten kilometers from the couple's home, were confirmed through DNA analysis to belong to Delphine Aussaguel, a 33-year-old nurse who worked at a clinic in Albi. The remains were buried in soil at the location indicated by Jubillar.
Additional search operations find no new evidence in Mailhoc field
Gendarmes conducted additional excavations on October 1-2, 2026 in a previously uninvestigated field at Mailhoc. The search yielded no new evidence or remains related to the case.
Key evidentiary discrepancies remain between Jubillar's account and investigation findings
Several aspects of Jubillar's confession remain difficult to reconcile with evidence collected during the investigation. Neighbors reported hearing screams around 11 PM, several hours before Jubillar claims the murder occurred around 1:30 AM. Delphine's eyeglasses were found broken into three pieces. No traces of soil were detected on Jubillar's clothing or in his vehicle despite his claim of digging by hand to bury the body. Delphine's phone was activated at 6:48 AM by human manipulation, though Jubillar claims he discarded it near their home.
Crime scene reconstruction scheduled for October 3, 2026 in Tarn
A judicial reconstruction of the crime was scheduled for Friday, October 3, 2026 beginning at 9:30 AM. The reconstruction would first take place at the family home to examine Jubillar's account of the events, then proceed to the field in Mailhoc where he claimed to have hidden the body. The reconstruction aimed to verify whether Jubillar's confession is consistent with physical evidence and to determine if the killing was impulsive or premeditated.
Supplementary excavations conducted at Mailhoc crime scene site on September 30, 2026
Complementary excavations were conducted on September 30, 2026 at Mailhoc, where Cédric Jubillar stated he buried his wife's body. The expanded search aimed to locate additional remains, particularly the skull, to establish cause of death more definitively. The operation was ordered by the investigating judge and mobilized approximately 150 law enforcement personnel including two mobile gendarme squadrons, thirty departmental gendarmes from Tarn, and investigators from Toulouse.
Remains of Delphine Aussaguel discovered in field near Mailhoc following suspect's confession
Following Cédric Jubillar's confession, investigators conducted searches in Mailhoc and discovered remains of the lower body of Delphine Aussaguel on a field approximately 10 kilometers from the family home. The location was designated by Jubillar during his confession. Analysis confirmed the remains belonged to the 33-year-old nurse who disappeared in December 2020.
Cédric Jubillar confesses to murdering wife Delphine Aussaguel after five years of denial
After five and a half years of denying involvement, 38-year-old painter Cédric Jubillar admitted in early July 2026 to killing his wife Delphine Aussaguel. He confessed to strangling her during an argument at their home in Cagnac-les-Mines (Tarn) during the night of December 15-16, 2020. This confession came nine months after he was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment on October 17, 2025 by the Tarn assizes court for the murder he had previously denied.
Cédric Jubillar's appeal trial scheduled for April-May 2027
Cédric Jubillar's appeal trial is scheduled to take place at the Haute-Garonne assizes court in Toulouse from April 30 to May 14, 2027. Having already received a 30-year prison sentence in October 2025, Jubillar faces the possibility of life imprisonment following the appeal trial. The trial will examine evidence including the reconstruction findings and his confession.
Remains of Delphine Aussaguel discovered in Mailhoc field in July 2026
Lower body remains of Delphine Aussaguel were discovered in July 2026 during initial excavations in a field near Mailhoc, Tarn, approximately ten kilometers from the family home. The location was designated by the accused during his confession. Analysis confirmed the remains belonged to Delphine Aussaguel.
Renewed excavations launched September 30, 2026 to locate additional remains
New excavation operations resumed on September 30, 2026 in fields near Mailhoc following Jubillar's confession. The search aimed to locate additional bone fragments, particularly the skull, which could provide evidence of the cause of death. The operation involved two mobile gendarmerie squadrons, approximately 30 departmental gendarmes from Tarn, and around ten investigators from Toulouse and the national judicial police unit.
Jubillar's appeal trial scheduled for April 30 - May 14, 2027
Cédric Jubillar's appeal trial was scheduled to take place from April 30 to May 14, 2027, before the criminal court of Haute-Garonne in Toulouse. The trial follows his appeal of the October 17, 2025 conviction to 30 years of criminal imprisonment. He faces a potential life sentence upon retrial.
Crime reconstruction scheduled for October 2, 2026
A crime reconstruction was scheduled for October 2, 2026, beginning at 9:30 AM, with Cédric Jubillar's participation. The reconstruction would involve demonstrating how he killed his wife in their home kitchen, followed by an examination of the Mailhoc field where he claimed to have hidden the body. Approximately 150 gendarmes were mobilized for the operation. A previous reconstruction had taken place on December 13, 2022.
Cédric Jubillar confessed to murdering his wife Delphine Aussaguel in December 2020
After five years of denial and initial conviction, Cédric Jubillar confessed in early July 2026 to murdering his wife Delphine Aussaguel, a 33-year-old nurse. He admitted to strangling her at their home in Cagnac-les-Mines during the night of December 15-16, 2020. He had been incarcerated at Seysses prison near Toulouse following his October 2025 conviction to 30 years of criminal imprisonment.
Remains of Delphine Aussaguel discovered nearly six years after disappearance
Remains belonging to Delphine Aussaguel were discovered in the summer of 2026 in a field near Villeneuve-sur-Vère, approximately ten kilometers from Cagnac-les-Mines, almost six years after her disappearance. Analysis confirmed the remains belonged to her.
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2 alternative perspectives
DNA confirms Aussaguel remains; searches yield no new evidence
DNA confirms Aussaguel remains; further Mailhoc searches find nothing new.
Jubillar's confession reveals gaps between account and investigation evidence
Jubillar's murder confession contradicts investigation findings despite his admission of guilt.
Crime scene reconstruction scheduled for early October in Tarn
Crime scene reconstruction scheduled October 3, 2026 continues investigative efforts after Jubillar's conviction.
Jubillar's confession leads to remains discovery and continued excavations
Jubillar's confession resulted in remains discovery and ongoing excavation efforts for additional evidence.
Jubillar appeal trial opens legal review of murder conviction
Jubillar appeal trial scheduled April-May 2027 to review 30-year murder conviction.
Excavations resume to locate Aussaguel remains in Mailhoc
Investigators resume excavations September 30 seeking additional remains in Aussaguel case.
Jubillar appeal trial set for April-May 2027 in Toulouse
Jubillar's appeal trial scheduled for April-May 2027 at Toulouse Court of Appeal.
Investigators schedule new crime scene reconstruction in Jubillar case
Investigators schedule October 2026 crime scene reconstruction in Jubillar case.
Remains Found as Jubillar Admits to Wife's Strangling Death
Jubillar confessed to murdering his wife; her remains were found six years later; he received 30 years.