Murder accused shouts 'I haven't done anything' in case of burnt human remains

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Ouissem Medouni (left), 40, and his partner Sabrina Kouider, 34, appearing at the Old Bailey in London
Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Ouissem Medouni (left), 40, and his partner Sabrina Kouider, 34, appearing at the Old Bailey in London Credit: Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire

A mother of two accused of murdering a French nanny cried out and shouted "it wasn't me" as she appeared at the Old Bailey today. 

Sabrina Kouider, 34, and her partner Ouissem Medouni, 40, are charged with the attempted murder of au pair Sophie Lionnet.

Police outside the scene
Police outside the scene Credit:  Paul Grover

The 21-year-old's charred remains were discovered in the couple's garden in Wimbledon, London. Her body has yet to be formally identified due to the severity of the burns.

The nanny, from Troyes, north east France, had been hired to look after the couple's children - including a child she is thought to have had with ex-boyfriend Mark Walton, who founded the Irish boyband Boyzone and is now a Pop Idol judge living in LA.

Ouissem Medouni (right), 40, who has been charged with the murder of French au pair Sabrina Kouider leaves Wimbledon Magistrates Court after being remanded on bail
Ouissem Medouni (right), 40, who has been charged with the murder of French au pair Sabrina Kouider leaves Wimbledon Magistrates Court after being remanded on bail Credit: David Dyson

Ms Lionnet is thought to have moved to London last year to improve her English.

The pair appeared via video link for their first Crown Court appearance.

French-Algerian Kouider, appeared to be struggling to breathe and on the verge of tears as she appeared on the Crown Court's video screen from HMP Bronzefield Women's prison.

Dressed in a black tracksuit and wearing her hair in a tight bun, she silently raised her hands in the air repeatedly, exclaiming under her breath. She appeared to be brandishing an unidentifiable book. 

Koudier cried out, interrupting court proceedings with intermittent cries in French and English. 

The murder scene in Wimbledon
The murder scene in Wimbledon Credit: Paul Grover

At one point, Kouider shouted in French, seemingly to Medouni, "tell them I haven't killed anybody, please tell them I haven't done anything darling".

Appearing from Wandsworth Prison in a dark blue tracksuit, Medouni stared emotionlessly ahead, speaking only to confirm he could hear and understand the proceedings. 

Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC reminded Kouider that she was represented in court by her lawyers. "If there's anything to say on your behalf you can be sure that they will say it," he told her via a court translator. 

A provisional trial date has been set for March 19 2018. 

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