Cédric Jubillar acknowledges responsibility for the death of Delphine Aussaguel in letter to lawyer

Toulouse – 06.07.2026: Cédric Jubillar, according to his court-appointed lawyer, has in a written document for the first time acknowledged responsibility for the death of his wife Delphine Aussaguel. Several regional and national media outlets on Monday published statements from lawyer Pierre Debuisson, who confirmed the receipt of a detailed, handwritten confession. He did not comment on details of its content. Official statements from the public prosecutor’s office were not initially available.

The case has preoccupied France since December 2020, when the then 33-year-old nurse disappeared from the couple’s home in Cagnac-les-Mines. Despite extensive search efforts, the body has still not been found. In autumn 2025 a criminal jury in Albi convicted the husband of murder and sentenced him to 30 years in prison. The defense filed an appeal; the new trial is scheduled for 21.09.2026 before the Court of Appeal in Toulouse.

According to reports from La Dépêche du Midi, Franceinfo, Le Parisien and TF1 Info, Debuisson received the document directly from his client. It is said to be a personal, longer letter that admits guilt. It remains unclear whether the letter contains operational details relevant to the investigation, for example about the whereabouts of the remains or a possible sequence of events. These points have been central gaps since the start of the proceedings.

Legally, the confession could carry weight in the upcoming appeal trial. In France the entire case is retried at the second instance. Defense and prosecution will examine whether and in what form the letter can be introduced into the evidentiary proceedings. Questions about the authenticity, circumstances of creation and voluntariness of the confession are also likely to play a role. So far there are no indications of additional investigative measures immediately following the disclosure.

For Delphine Aussaguel’s relatives, the news is another blow in a matter shaped by years of uncertainty. The disappearance without a body made the search particularly difficult and caused the evidence in the first trial to rely heavily on circumstantial indications. Observers expect the appellate court to consider the new aspect carefully while not losing sight of the presumption of innocence in the ongoing proceedings.

With the September date in view, it remains open whether the confession will lead to procedural motions or prompt a recalibration of the defense strategy. The only certainty is that, should the letter be admitted, it could reorganize the debate about motive, the course of events and the circumstances that remain unresolved to date.