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| Investigations continue after two Brits die in France | Investigations continue after two Brits die in France |
| (about 2 hours 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 |
| An investigation into the death of a British couple in France is continuing, after their bodies were discovered by a neighbour on Thursday. | An investigation into the death of a British couple in France is continuing, after their bodies were discovered by a neighbour on Thursday. |
| The pair, named on Friday as Andrew and Dawn Searle, moved to south west France from Scotland about a decade ago. | The pair, named on Friday as Andrew and Dawn Searle, moved to south west France from Scotland about a decade ago. |
| The local mayor, Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, told French television, external that the deaths were "clearly a homicide". | The local mayor, Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, told French television, external that the deaths were "clearly a homicide". |
| The prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Nicolas Rigot-Muller, told the BBC autopsies would take place on Monday, adding: "Investigations are currently taking place." | The prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Nicolas Rigot-Muller, told the BBC autopsies would take place on Monday, adding: "Investigations are currently taking place." |
| The couple's bodies were found at about 12:20 on Thursday at their home in the hamlet of Les Pesquiès, in a rural area north of the city of Toulouse. | The couple's bodies were found at about 12:20 on Thursday at their home in the hamlet of Les Pesquiès, in a rural area north of the city of Toulouse. |
| The discovery was made by a neighbour, who went to check on them when they failed to turn up for a planned dog walk. | The discovery was made by a neighbour, who went to check on them when they failed to turn up for a planned dog walk. |
| The area around their detached house has been sealed off while investigations take place, and local police have called in expert help from Toulouse. | |
| Forensics officers spent Thursday searching the scene of the crime, with a helicopter, a drone, criminal investigation technicians and a forensic doctor deployed to the site. | Forensics officers spent Thursday searching the scene of the crime, with a helicopter, a drone, criminal investigation technicians and a forensic doctor deployed to the site. |
| No criminal case has been opened so far, and police say there is no preferred theory about how the couple died. | No criminal case has been opened so far, 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 |
| Forensics officers have been carrying out investigations at the scene | Forensics officers have been carrying out investigations at the scene |
| Mr Orcibal, who represents the Villefranche-de-Rouergue area, 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, who represents the Villefranche-de-Rouergue area, 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 also said the couple had become "very well integrated" in the village and used to regularly invite neighbours, many of them fellow expats, for a drink. | Mr Orcibal also said the couple had become "very well integrated" in the village and used to regularly invite neighbours, many of them fellow expats, 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. |
| Callum Kerr walked his mother Dawn Searle down the aisle in 2023 | Callum Kerr walked his mother Dawn Searle down the aisle in 2023 |
| Mrs Searle is the mother of actor and country musician Callum Kerr. | Mrs Searle is the mother of actor and country musician Callum Kerr. |
| He has appeared in Netflix's Virgin River and played PC Kiss in Hollyoaks. | He 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. |
| Mr Kerr walked his mother down the aisle as she married Mr Searle at the ceremony in France. | Mr Kerr walked his mother down the aisle as she married Mr Searle at the 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." |
| 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. |
| Mrs Searle grew up in Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders, and Mr Searle was originally from England. | Mrs Searle grew up in Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders, and Mr Searle was originally from England. |
| The couple - who were in their 60s - lived in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, before they moved to Les Pesquiès, which is south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue. | The couple - who were in their 60s - lived in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, before they moved to Les Pesquiès, which is south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue. |
| 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." |