Cédric Jubillar took part in a judicial re-enactment Friday of the night his wife, Delphine Aussaguel, died in southern France, an important procedural step before his appeal trial.
The re-enactment took place in Cagnac-les-Mines and continued in the nearby area of Mailhoc in the Tarn department.
Jubillar was brought from prison under heavy security to revisit the locations connected to the death and the later concealment of Aussaguel’s remains.
The exercise lasted more than three hours and involved judges, lawyers, investigators and other participants in the case.
It was ordered after Jubillar changed his account of events and acknowledged this year that he was responsible for his wife’s death.
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Cedric Jubillar: What the re-enactment was meant to establish
The Cédric Jubillar investigation has entered a new phase since his confession.
The purpose of Friday’s exercise was not to establish guilt by itself, but to test whether his account is compatible with the physical evidence, witness statements and known timeline.
Investigators examined the sequence of movements described by Jubillar, including what happened at the couple’s former home and how Aussaguel’s body was moved after her death.
The procedure also gave the parties an opportunity to compare Jubillar’s latest version with details that were developed during the original investigation and his first trial.
Lawyers representing the civil parties said afterward that the re-enactment did not provide a convincing or fully coherent explanation.
Those assessments are arguments from the parties involved, rather than a final judicial finding.
Remains were found after Jubillar’s statements
Aussaguel disappeared during the night of December 15 to 16, 2020.
Her remains were located in July 2026 in the Mailhoc area after information provided by Jubillar, according to investigators.
Forensic specialists later confirmed that the recovered bones belonged to Delphine Jubillar, whose maiden name was Aussaguel.
The national criminal investigation unit said the identification was made despite the poor condition of the remains, using specialist DNA analysis.
The discovery ended one of the central uncertainties in the case, but it did not resolve every question about how Aussaguel died or how her body was concealed.
Additional searches were carried out in the Tarn shortly before Friday’s re-enactment.
Authorities were examining areas that had not previously been fully searched, although the results of those operations did not immediately produce a new public breakthrough.
Jubillar was convicted in 2025
Jubillar was convicted at trial in Albi in October 2025 and sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing his wife.
He had denied responsibility for years before admitting in 2026 that he caused her death.
His appeal is scheduled to be heard in Toulouse from April 30 to May 14, 2027.
The new evidence and statements gathered during the supplemental investigation are expected to form part of the material considered before that hearing.
The appeal court will assess the case independently.
Friday’s re-enactment does not determine the outcome of the appeal, and the prosecution and defence remain able to challenge the interpretation of the evidence.
Why the next trial could look different
The case presented to the first trial did not include a confirmed recovery of Aussaguel’s remains.
That changed after Jubillar’s later statements and the forensic identification of the bones.
The new material could allow prosecutors to build a more detailed account of what happened after Aussaguel disappeared.
At the same time, the defence can argue about the reliability, timing and interpretation of Jubillar’s statements.
The re-enactment is therefore likely to be used by both sides in different ways.
Prosecutors may point to inconsistencies between Jubillar’s account and the physical evidence, while the defence may challenge whether the exercise can reliably reproduce events that occurred nearly six years ago.
The appeal proceedings will ultimately determine which evidence is accepted and whether the original conviction and sentence should stand.
What happens next
Investigators and judicial authorities are expected to review the findings from the re-enactment and any related forensic work before the appeal hearing.
Jubillar remains in custody while the case proceeds.
No final ruling has been issued in the appeal, and the legal process is continuing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Cédric Jubillar?
Cédric Jubillar is the French man convicted of killing his wife, Delphine Aussaguel, and sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2025.
What happened during the October 2, 2026 re-enactment?
Jubillar revisited locations in Cagnac-les-Mines and Mailhoc so investigators and the parties could compare his account with the physical evidence and known timeline.
Were Delphine Aussaguel’s remains found?
Yes. Remains recovered in July 2026 were identified through DNA analysis as belonging to Delphine Aussaguel, also known as Delphine Jubillar.
When is Cédric Jubillar’s appeal trial?
His appeal is scheduled in Toulouse from April 30 to May 14, 2027.
Does the re-enactment decide the appeal?
No. It is an investigative step. The appeal court will assess the full record and decide whether the conviction and sentence should stand.
Fact-Checked: Key facts were checked against the French National Gendarmerie’s official update on the identification of Delphine Jubillar’s remains and current court-reporting on the October 2, 2026 re-enactment. ([gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr](https://www.gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr/unpj/actualites/affaire-jubillar-un-pas-vers-la-verite-a-ete-fait?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: The appeal process is ongoing, and allegations, party submissions and investigative findings should not be treated as a final court ruling.