Laureline Garcia-Bertaux - Credit;SWNS
Police probing the murder of a French businesswoman strangled to death before being buried in a shallow grave in London have arrested a suspect in Estonia.
Laureline Garcia-Bertaux, 34, was reported missing when she did not arrive for work last week. Her body was found in her own back garden the following day.
Scotland Yard detectives say a 32-year-old man was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant in the Baltic state.
He was detained on susupicion of murder at an address in the Estonian capital of Tallinn just after noon today (WED).
Extradition proceedings are now commencing to bring him back to the UK.
Film producer Ms Garcia-Bertaux was said to have been living at the house in Kew, south west London, since April last year.
A post-mortem gave her cause of death as “consistent with compression of the neck”.
Originally from Aix-en-Provence, Ms Garcia-Bertaux had worked with Dame Joan Collins on 2018 short film Gerry.
The veteran actress paid tribute to the woman, saying she was “shocked by the horrifying news” of her death.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “A 32-year-old man was arrested in Estonia today at 12.25pm on suspicion of the murder of Laureline Garcia-Bertaux.
“He was arrested after the Metropolitan Police Service Homicide and Major Crime Command, in conjunction with the Crown Prosecution Service, issued an European Arrest Warrant (EAW).
“Met homicide detectives have been working with Eurojust in Rhe Hague and police colleagues in Europol to trace and detain the man sought in connection with the investigation.
“The 32-year-old man was detained at an address in Tallinn, Estonia, and is being held in an Estonian Police Station prior to extradition proceedings commencing.
“A murder investigation led by Detectives from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command continues apace.”
