Man held after wife’s remains found encased in concrete

LONDON - A businessman was arrested after the burnt remains of his wife were found covered in concrete in their mansion in France, it was reported here Tuesday.

Joanna Hall may have died last week during a drunken argument with her husband Robert, 55.

Daily Express reported that one of their three children could have reported Robert Hall to the police over the accusation that he covered up the crime at the estate in Le Chatellier, Fougeres, close to the western city of Rennes, in Brittany, France.

“Mrs Hall’s burnt remains were found covered in concrete in a wing of the house. The couple had been living in the area for around 12 years along with their children but had been experiencing business difficulties,” a police source was quoted as saying.

“They had been renting out rooms in the buildings on their estate but customers who arrived were asking for their money back and the business just wasn’t working. This caused all kinds of tensions,” the source said.

Catherine Denis, from the Rennes prosecutor’s office, said: “It appears that her body was burnt and her ashes placed in the cement.”