Susan Higginbotham, 67, was found dead in September 2021 (Picture: Family handout)
A British pensioner living in a French village was murdered by her neighbour after asking to borrow some sellotape, a local court has heard.
Susan Higginbotham, 67, was found strangled to death at her home in the rural village Esclottes, in the southwest of France, in September 2021.
Neighbour Hichame Bahloul, 42, was sentenced to 32 years in prison after the court found he had murdered the pensioner in order to be imprisoned and get away from his family.
The murder, the The Lot-et-Garonne assize court heard, occurred after the woman approached her neighbour to ask for some sellotape.
Bahloul confessed to strangling her with a piece of “cord”, before kicking her and punching her in the head.
While the two were said to be on polite speaking terms, the court heard that the man had a history of severe mental illness, including schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
The murder happened in the rural village of Esclottes, in the southwest of France.
Previously, Bahloul spent time in psychiatric care, where he used violence on staff and fellow patients, leading the prosecution to conclude that he “took pleasure in it”.
“Is this a crime of interest? Of substitution? Of opportunity?” the prosecutor asked.
“The need to attack others has been part of his life for years. He attacked many people during his various hospitalisations: patients or nursing staff,” they continued.
At the time of the murder, however, Bahloul lived with his parents in Esclottes. He decided to commit the horrific crime in order to escape his family situation.
Bahloul’s lawyer said: “I have a client who feels safe in prison and wants to stay there. He struggles with freedom.”
This led the prosecution to push for a life sentence, after the man threatened to commit similar acts if he were ever to be freed again.
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One of Ms Higginbotham’s friend who testified in court described Susan as “a very pleasant person” who “ took care of people a lot and was very open.”
The friend said: “She had had a successful career, as a financial director, then as a company representative; she had worked very hard.
“She really wanted to be happy in France when she moved in 2016, and I think she was.
“She was living her dream. She was funny. I miss her a lot.”
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