FRENCH MURDER TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1927, Page 2

FRENCH MURDER TRIAL

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] PARIS. July 20. The Assize Court at Alehin was besieged when the millionaire stockbroker. Gaston Guyot, again appeared oil the charge of the murder of a girl whoso charred remains Mere found in a hayrack set afire in a field some months ago.

The accused, Guyot, gave liis own version of the death of the girl, whose real name was Louise Beulagevt.

She was known as “Afalou, the telephone girl with the green eyes,” and Guyot is accused of having strangled her. The case has been the talk of l'rance. It tills pages in the neuspapers.

Guyot strenuously maintained Afnlou's death was accidental. Bursting into tears he exclaimed: “Why should il have killed (her? It is so easy to get. rid of a mistress t” The accused averred that Afalou was of a violent jealous disposition. He explained that while they were motoring he fastened a fatal clutch on her throat with his right hand in a fit of uncontrollable exasperation. while steering uitli his left hand.

The Judge refused to accept this version. He said the evidence showed that Guyot had determined to make an end of an embarrassing mistress, and that he deliberately strangled her, not ,in a motor car. hut at the side of the hayrick, among the charred remains of which Melon's half-burden body was found. Guyot confessed that he fired the rick. Ho said that on seeing the jxwr girl dead he thought he only was getting rid of the l>ody. Questions revealed that Guyot had twice married and both of his wives committed suicide. Doctors declare that her life was not extinct uffien the girl was thrown on the hayrick, as fumes were found in her lungs. The case was adjourned.