Case 236
Sophie Lionnet
*** Content Warning: abuse ***
When residents of the affluent Southfields area of south-west London notice foul smelling smoke coming from a home on Wimbledon Park Drive in September 2017, firefighters arrive to make sure the house isn’t in danger. Nothing could prepare them for what they find instead – the burning human remains of French au pair, 21-year-old Sophie Lionnet.
Suspicions are immediately cast on Sophie’s employers, socialite Sabrina Koudier and her long-term partner Ouissem Medouni. But why would the stylish couple want to harm their young nanny? And what does former boy band member Mark Walton have to do with it? What emerges is a tale of lies and blackmail so extreme that it beggars belief.
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research & writing – Elsha McGill
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
PREMIUM
Although Casefile episodes are free for all listeners, those who want to support us financially can do so by becoming a member of Patreon, Apple Premium or Spotify Premium. Paid subscribers receive access to exclusive content including behind-the-scenes discussions with the Casefile team, interviews, early releases and ad-free episodes.
RESOURCES
COURT DOCUMENTS
VIDEOS
Stranger Than Fiction: The Nanny Killers
Tortured to Death: Murdering the Nanny
Mark Walton on Good Morning Britain
ONLINE NEWS ARTICLES
Southfields burned garden body: Two charged with murder – BBC News
Sophie Lionnet: The ‘toxic’ couple who murdered their au pair – BBC News
Couple obsessed with Boyzone member guilty of killing French nanny – The Guardian
Haunting last image of tortured and starved nanny, 21, taken by evil couple just two days before they murdered her – The Mirror
Sophie Lionnet death: Body parts found in bonfire – BBC News
Murder accussed ‘screamed abuse at nanny’ – BBC News
“I’m scared”: Full, horrifying transcripts of ‘torture tapes’ couple recorded before murdering nanny – The Mirror
Nanny killer Sabrina Kouider described by ex as ‘fickle lunatic’ – The Daily Mail
Sophie Lionnet’s alleged killer cried ‘what have I done?‘ – BBC News
Sophie Lionnet murder accused ‘claimed Trump connection’ – BBC News
Nanny Sophie Lionnet’s killer Sabrina Kouider writes bizarre apology letter – The Sun
Fashion designer admits she should have called police – 9News
Sophie Lionnet death: Accused ‘screamed like a mad woman’ – BBC News
First pictures of garden where murdered nanny’s body was burned on bonfire – Metro News
French nanny Sophie Lionnet’s mother demands death penalty – The Daily Mail
A London couple’s shared delusions led to the torture and death of French au pair – The Washington Post
Murdered French nanny had a chance to escape – Sky News
NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES
Boyzone founder on ex accused of killing nanny: She’d go crazy – The Evening Standard
My daughter had issues with family, says father of ‘murdered’ au pair – The Evening Standard
Man retracts confession and blames lover for killing nanny – The Evening Standard
Nanny was like angel with the children, neighbour says – The Evening Standard