The appeal trial of Cédric Jubillar, the Frenchman convicted of murdering his wife Delphine, has been officially postponed. A judicial meeting in Toulouse on Tuesday confirmed the proceedings, originally scheduled to begin September 21, will not take place until the first half of 2027.
In a statement, the Toulouse Court of Appeal explained the decision was made “given the time required to carry out the remaining investigative acts, to ensure the smooth progress of the investigation, and to respect the adversarial principle.”
A Judicial Bombshell After Years of Denial
The delay follows a dramatic turn in a case that has gripped France. After five and a half years of silence and denials, Jubillar admitted to causing his wife’s death. His lawyers, Guy and Pierre Debuisson, stated he first confessed in a letter on July 6, then reiterated the admission to investigators on July 15.
Delphine Aussaguel, a 33-year-old nurse, vanished from the couple’s home in Cagnac-les-Mines, near Albi, during the night of December 15 to 16, 2020. Her body was never found, and despite a lack of forensic evidence or a confession at the time, the 38-year-old painter and plasterer was sentenced in October to 30 years in prison.
Pierre Debuisson told AFP his client now understands he committed “an abominable act.” Following his confession, Jubillar directed investigators to the edge of a field about ten kilometers from the family home, where he claimed to have hidden the body. Searches the site uncovered bones, which analysis confirmed belonged to the missing woman.
Consensus on Postponement for Further Investigation
The decision to delay the appeal was reached by consensus, according to Marika Chmani, the lawyer representing the couple’s children. Laurent de Caunes, attorney for the victim’s brothers and sister, stated the postponement will allow for “investigations and personality assessments, in light of Cédric Jubillar’s new position on the facts.”
The Toulouse magistrates confirmed the revised timeline, noting that “it can already be indicated that Mr. Jubillar’s appeal trial should be able to take place during the first half of 2027.”
