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| British couple found dead at home in south of France | |
| (3 days later) | |
| Andrew and Dawn Searle had moved to France from Scotland about 10 years ago | Andrew and Dawn Searle had moved to France from Scotland about 10 years ago |
| A British couple have been found dead in their home in south west France. | A British couple have been found dead in their home in south west France. |
| Andrew and Dawn Searle, who moved to France from Scotland about 10 years ago, were discovered by their neighbour on Thursday. | Andrew and Dawn Searle, who moved to France from Scotland about 10 years ago, were discovered by their neighbour on Thursday. |
| The mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, told French television that the deaths were "clearly a homicide". | |
| The couple lived in the hamlet of Les Pesquiès in a rural area north of Toulouse. | The couple lived in the hamlet of Les Pesquiès in a rural area north of Toulouse. |
| Mr Searle is originally from England and Mrs Searle grew up in Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders. | Mr Searle is originally from England and Mrs Searle grew up in Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders. |
| The couple - who were in their 60s - lived in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, before they moved to Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue. | The couple - who were in their 60s - lived in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, before they moved to Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue. |
| Mrs Searle is the mother of actor and country musician Callum Kerr. | Mrs Searle is the mother of actor and country musician Callum Kerr. |
| Forensics officers spent Thursday searching the scene of the crime | Forensics officers spent Thursday searching the scene of the crime |
| According to his LinkedIn page, Mr Searle had worked in financial crime prevention at companies including Standard Life and Barclays Bank during his career. | According to his LinkedIn page, Mr Searle had worked in financial crime prevention at companies including Standard Life and Barclays Bank during his career. |
| The couple's bodies were found at about 12:20 on Thursday after a neighbour went to check on them at their detached house when they failed to turn up as planned for a dog walk. | The couple's bodies were found at about 12:20 on Thursday after a neighbour went to check on them at their detached house when they failed to turn up as planned for a dog walk. |
| Mr Orcibal told BBC News the cause of the death was still unclear. He had earlier dismissed speculation the deaths were due to a burglary "gone wrong", and said "no knife was found". | Mr Orcibal told BBC News the cause of the death was still unclear. He had earlier dismissed speculation the deaths were due to a burglary "gone wrong", and said "no knife was found". |
| The area around the house has been sealed off and local police have called in expert help from the city of Toulouse. | The area around the house has been sealed off and local police have called in expert help from the city of Toulouse. |
| At the moment no criminal case has been opened, and police say there is no preferred theory about how the couple died. | At the moment no criminal case has been opened, and police say there is no preferred theory about how the couple died. |
| The bodies were discovered early on Thursday afternoon | The bodies were discovered early on Thursday afternoon |
| Mrs Searle's son, Callum Kerr, is an actor who has appeared in Netflix's Virgin River and played PC Kiss in Hollyoaks. | Mrs Searle's son, Callum Kerr, is an actor who has appeared in Netflix's Virgin River and played PC Kiss in Hollyoaks. |
| He has also released a number of country songs. | He has also released a number of country songs. |
| In 2023, Mr Kerr walked his mother down the aisle as she married Mr Searle at a ceremony in France. | In 2023, Mr Kerr walked his mother down the aisle as she married Mr Searle at a ceremony in France. |
| On social media, he said: "Not many people can say they walked their own mother down the aisle. What a pleasure. I love you mum." | On social media, he said: "Not many people can say they walked their own mother down the aisle. What a pleasure. I love you mum." |
| Callum Kerr walked his mother Dawn Searle down the aisle in 2023 | Callum Kerr walked his mother Dawn Searle down the aisle in 2023 |
| Mr Orcibal also said the couple had become "very well integrated" in the village and used to regularly invite neighbours for a drink. | Mr Orcibal also said the couple had become "very well integrated" in the village and used to regularly invite neighbours for a drink. |
| The mayor added that Mr and Mrs Searle had got married in the summer of 2023, and that Mr Searle had worn a kilt for the wedding. | The mayor added that Mr and Mrs Searle had got married in the summer of 2023, and that Mr Searle had worn a kilt for the wedding. |
| A helicopter, a drone, criminal investigation technicians and a forensic doctor have been seen at the home. | A helicopter, a drone, criminal investigation technicians and a forensic doctor have been seen at the home. |
| The Rodez prosecutor, Nicolas Rigot-Muller, who is in charge of the investigation, told the BBC he would not disclose the identity of the deceased before the autopsy, which will take place on Monday. "Investigations are currently taking place", he said. | The Rodez prosecutor, Nicolas Rigot-Muller, who is in charge of the investigation, told the BBC he would not disclose the identity of the deceased before the autopsy, which will take place on Monday. "Investigations are currently taking place", he said. |
| Les Pesquiès has around 100 residents and the area is popular with expats. | Les Pesquiès has around 100 residents and the area is popular with expats. |
| A spokesperson for the UK's Foreign Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in France and are liaising with the local authorities." | A spokesperson for the UK's Foreign Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in France and are liaising with the local authorities." |