‘Female friend’ charged with killing of British mum-of-four in brutal stabbing

A pensioner has been charged with the murder of a mother-of-four who was found dead after what police described as a 'frenzied attack'.

Karen Carter, 65, was left lying in a pool of blood as she suffered a 'massive haemorrhage' after sustaining several fatal stab wounds on 29 April last year.

More than a year on from the horrific killing which stunned locals in the French village of Trémolat, officials announced that charges have now been levied against a 70-year-old woman in connection with Karen's death.

Karen's lover, 75-year-old businessman Jean-François Guerrier, found her lying near her car after she was viciously attacked in 2025.

She had sustained eight serious wounds, including punctures to the 'chest, abdomen and forearm'. The British-South African expat also endured 'superficial ones on the thigh, shoulder and thumbs'.

A 70-year-old has now been charged with Karen's murder (Facebook)

Karen had attended a wine-tasting hosted by Jean-François on that fateful evening, who then followed her home in his car only to stumble across the tragic scene.

The mum had been living in Trémolat for more than a decade and ran two swanky holiday homes in the area.

Reports claim she divided her time between the Dordogne and a home she shared with her husband, former London Stock Exchange worker Alan Carter, back in South Africa.

He later told reporters that he had no idea his spouse had 'started a relationship' with someone else and considered Jean-François to be 'just a friend of hers'.

In the days that followed Karen's murder, a 70-year-old woman from Trémolat was taken into custody before she was released without charge a short time later.

Police update

However, she is now back 'under judicial supervision', French prosecutors have said. The woman was charged with Karen's murder on 2 July.

The public prosecutor for the region, Jacques-Édouard Andrault, said: "On July 2nd, the investigating judge in Périgueux formally charged a woman with murder.

"This 70-year-old woman, originally from Trémolat, was taken into custody on April 30, 2025, during a preliminary investigation, before being released.

"Since then, the investigations conducted as part of the judicial inquiry opened on May 7, 2025, have led the investigating judge to indict her.

"This woman has been placed under judicial supervision."

The Brit expat pictured with her husband Alan (Facebook)

Karen's husband Alan previously revealed that he was informed of his wife's passing by a relative who spotted a post about it on a local community page on Facebook.

Police in the area then confirmed this news when he got in touch.

He previously said that Karen 'wouldn't hurt a fly' while paying tribute to the 65-year-old.

"I'm an introvert, and she's the exact opposite," Alan said. "She's an extrovert, she loves people, she loves to have fun. People love her, she has a good heart.

"She's the one who would bring home the lost dog, or cat, or whatever. She's that sort of person. Everyone liked her. That's why I married her. She's just lovely."