A man who allowed himself to be in prison until he killed his wife, says he will reveal the location of the body if it happens, which shocks France

A French man convicted of murdering his wife who disappeared more than a decade ago – and whose body has never been found – has admitted from prison to killing her, his lawyer said on Monday.

Cedric Jubillar, 38, was sentenced in October to 30 years in prison for the murder of Delphine Jubillar, 33, following a trial that shocked France but where he remained innocent.

Delphine went missing in the southern French countryside in December 2020 at the height of the COVID pandemic.

Four weeks into the trial in the southern city of Albi, the defense attorney said that because his wife's body was never found, there was no certainty that a crime had been committed, BBC News reported. But a jury of six citizens and three magistrates ruled that there was enough circumstantial evidence to conclude that Jubillar was guilty of murder.

But in a dramatic move two months before his plea was due to be heard, Jubillar wrote a “confession” admitting his involvement, his lawyer Pierre Debuisson told a press conference.

Jubillar is ready to “cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities” and tell investigators where the body is after hiding the body on the night of December 15-16, 2020, he said.

He expressed his hope that Jubillar's move would allow their two young children to “cry and bury Delphine properly,” adding that his client is “obviously remorseful” for his actions.

“It's the worst thing he did in his life,” added the lawyer. It is not yet clear how Delphine Jubillar was killed.

His legal team now believe it is unlikely that the appeal hearing will take place as planned in September, as their client will have to undergo further investigations and an autopsy.

Debuisson said Jubillar will provide more information when he is questioned.

In his confession, he mentions a dispute between the couple but does not give any other details.

He was convicted because of a chain of evidence, even though there was no body or genetic evidence linking him to the crime. The case heard Delphine asking for a divorce while she was having an affair with another man.

“We are comfortable with the children,” said Malika Chmani, the lawyer for the two young children.

“Now it's important that he tells us where the body is. I believe that's what's going to happen — anyway, that's what we're hoping for,” he added.

During the murder trial, BBC News reported that the court heard that Delphine began dating a man she met online. Prosecutors allege that on the night of her disappearance, she told Cédric Jubillar for the first time about the affair, which led to a fight and her death, possibly by strangulation, the BBC reported.