A 78-YEAR-OLD man has admitted murdering his wife and hiding her in a water butt more than 20 years ago.
He also confessed to killing his own adult son, claiming he had been having an affair with his stepmum.
A facial reconstruction of Hakima Boukerouis, whose body was found in France in 2005 Credit: Interpol
An Interpol pic of a Harcostar-brand barrel-shaped rainwater butt, similar to the one the body was found in Credit: Interpol
The pensioner killed Hakima Boukerouis, 35, and hid her body in a water container by the side of a road in Moselle, north-eastern .
Her body was found on January 7, 2005, but couldn’t be identified due to its advanced state of decay.
It was found in black bin bags tied with string inside the rainwater collection tank.
She is thought to have died in 2004.
Interpol said the same barrel had been seen floating in the Red Saar River in mid-October 2004.
They released a photo of a bra and tank top found nearby, as well as a Harcostar-brand barrel-shaped rainwater butt, similar to the one the body was found in.
It wasn’t until 18 years later, in July 2023, that the was reopened.
Cops were then able to ID the corpse using parental .
Police also found a bra and tank top Credit: Interpol
The body was found in a water container by the side of a road in Moselle, north-eastern France Credit: Alamy
She had previously been known just as “the woman with the Richmond dental crown”.
found that Hakima’s husband had been claiming her as a dependent for tax reasons, when she had been missing for more than two decades.
They linked the body with the sudden disappearance of the suspect‘s son in 1974.
The 78-year-old was finally arrested in June last year, along with other family members.
During questioning he claimed to have enlisted the help of someone else to harm the victim.
He was thrown behind bars and charged with murdering a spouse, before being released on bail for reasons.
A year later he has confessed to the – and implicated his niece.
She has also been arrested, and charged with accessory to murder.
During his confession, he reportedly told the judge he had killed his wife and son “because of their adulterous relationship”.
The case continues.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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