Briton appeals conviction for killing his wife in south-west France
David Turtle, 69, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after his wife was found crushed under his car. He claims it was an accident
The appeal is being heard at a court in Gers
Stephanie and David Turtle / Facebook
A British man is appealing his conviction for murdering his wife in south-west France after an argument over a television programme.
David Turtle, 69, was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2021. His wife Stephanie, 50, was found dead outside their home in 2017.
She had been hit and crushed by Turtle鈥檚 Mercedes. A forensic report confirmed she had been standing in front of the car when she was run over.
Turtle鈥檚 defence claimed it was an accident and that he did not see his wife in front of the vehicle. But this was deemed unlikely and he was convicted of one count of murder.
Turtle continues to claim it was an accident with the appeal now underway in Gers, south-west France.
鈥楽he was my life鈥�
The accident occurred just over six years ago 鈥� on March 30, 2017.
After a heated dispute over what television show to watch, Turtle decided to go for a drive to clear his head, the original trial heard.
Stephanie followed him, but then 鈥渄isappeared鈥� according to him. Turtle drove off, then paused, before noticing her arm underneath the car鈥檚 wheel, he claimed.
He called the emergency services, but she died shortly after the incident.
To this day, Turtle insists he did not see her and that it was nothing more than a tragic accident.
Expert analysis aided the original case
The legal team of Stephanie鈥檚 sister disagreed with Turtle鈥檚 claims, believing such an accident 鈥渋mpossible,鈥� and a team of experts were called in to conduct tests.
Assessing everything from the vehicle鈥檚 sensors and the tire tracks it left, to a reenactment in the courtroom with a dummy, they left the jury in little doubt of the verdict that it was a deliberate act.
鈥淲hen you drive over a speed bump鈥� you feel it. You feel it more when you drive over a body... where there is a resistance, and it is necessary to accelerate,鈥� said the engineering expert present at the case.
The public prosecutor for the case, Patrick Serra, said that Turtle 鈥渃ould not have been unaware鈥� of his wife鈥檚 presence.
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鈥業 drew in five minutes the absolute pain of a lifetime鈥�
