British pensioner death in France: two men charged

Two men have been charged and remanded in custody after the death of an 84-year-old British man whose body was found outside his home in southwest France, prosecutors said Saturday.

The suspects, aged 32 and 26, were charged with robbery leading to death after the victim was discovered outside his property in the village of Verlus in the Gers region on September 26.

The investigation began after police tried to stop a vehicle near Mont-de-Marsan on the night of September 25-26. The occupants fled on foot. Gendarmes traced the abandoned vehicle to its owner, went to his home and found him unconscious with multiple injuries. He later died.

Prosecutors said the 32-year-old suspect, who has 21 previous convictions, also faces separate charges over an attempted murder in Mont-de-Marsan earlier this month.