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British man held over 'wife's death at French chateau'
7 Sep 2010A British man was being questioned by French police today over the death of his wife after charred remains were discovered at their chateau.
Prosecutors said they were investigating claims that Joanne Hall, 49, died during a drunken row with husband Robert.
He is alleged to have burned her body before burying her ashes in concrete.
Police in Brittany arrested the 55-year-old, from Manchester, and magistrates remanded him in custody yesterday.
The Halls, who have three children, are believed to have moved to the region a decade ago and rented out their property to tourists.
Chateau de Fretay in Fougeres, near Rennes, is advertised on websites as having 15 bedrooms, a nine-hole golf course, parkland, lakes and a go-karting circuit. It costs visitors more than £5,000 a week in high season.
The site is undergoing renovation work to build gites and a golf course.
Catherine Denis, from the prosecutor's office in Rennes, said police responded to a call from the Hall family at the weekend.
She added that the remains found at the house had not yet been formally identified.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are aware of an incident in France involving two British nationals. “We have approached next of kin to offer consular assistance.”
