French expat murder trial ordered to continue after self-harm attempt

The trial of a gardener accused of murdering his British expat lover has been ordered to continue after the defendant attempted to harm himself.

Jean-Louis Cayrou, 54, who is accused of the murder of Patricia Wilson, 58, in August 2012, appeared in the dock at the Cour d'Assises de l'Aveyron in Rodez, south France, with scratches covering his face and arms.

In a statement, which he read to court on Friday, he had said he would be in "the morgue" by Monday, prosecuting lawyers said.

However, presiding judge Regis Cayrol ordered the case to continue after the defendant passed a psychiatric assessment.

Defence lawyer Jacques Levy condemned the prosecution and general lawyer for not informing him of his client's condition over the weekend, saying it was "unacceptable".