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Brother-in-law denies earl murder Marriage to earl 'was a curse'
(about 5 hours later)
A man accused of murdering the Earl of Shaftesbury has protested his innocence and appealed to the French president for justice, at the start of his trial. The widow of the Earl of Shaftesbury, who is accused of paying her brother to kill her husband, has told a French court their marriage was cursed.
The earl's brother-in-law, Mohammed M'Barek, told a packed court in Nice, France, the death was an accident. Former nightclub hostess Jamila M'Barek, 45, said she did not marry Anthony Ashley-Cooper for his money.
Former hostess Jamila M'Barek, 45, is accused of paying her brother to murder her husband Anthony Ashley-Cooper. She said: "I had always been prosperous. Marrying him was a curse."
Both deny the murder charge saying the earl, who had homes in Hove and London, was killed during a drunken row. Ms M'Barek and her brother Mohammed both deny the murder charge saying the earl, who had homes in Hove and London, was killed during a drunken row.
Mr M'Barek, who is 43, said: "I have been in prison for two-and-a-half years for nothing. It's scandalous. French justice is scandalous.
"I am innocent, my sister is innocent. It was an accident."
Disappearance gripped Riviera
He then appealed to French President Nicolas Sarkozy for justice.
The flamboyant earl was reported missing by his lawyer in November 2004.The flamboyant earl was reported missing by his lawyer in November 2004.
'Lacked love'
The mysterious disappearance of the 66-year-old rich, playboy aristocrat gripped the French Riviera.The mysterious disappearance of the 66-year-old rich, playboy aristocrat gripped the French Riviera.
His widow, Ms M'Barek, is a former nightclub hostess who is alleged to have been involved in the murder because her husband was in the process of divorcing her for another, younger woman.
According to the prosecution, Ms M'Barek was worried she might be cut out of her husband's will if he married again.
Philippe Soussi, the earl's family's lawyer, said: "We hope to show this was a premeditated act. All the material elements of this case indicate a premeditated act."
Anthony Ashley-Cooper and Jamila M'Barek were married in Holland
Ms M'Barek's defence lawyer is expected to claim she had no motive for murder, as her past associations with rich and famous men meant she did not need her late husband's money.
The earl, who was educated at Eton and Oxford in England, moved to France in 1999 and married for the third, and final, time in 2002.
He inherited his title from his grandfather at the age of 22, along with a 9,000-acre family estate in Dorset.
In April 2005, his body was discovered in undergrowth between Nice and Cannes.In April 2005, his body was discovered in undergrowth between Nice and Cannes.
Ms M'Barek told the court that on the 5 November 2004, an argument had blown up between her husband and brother, who were both drunk.
She said: "It was an accident between two people who had been drinking, that's it quite simply."
Ms M'Barek said Mohammed was sick after the fight and forced her to help him put the earl's body into the boot of his car.
She said the earl was tender throughout their marriage, but added: "He was a loner. He lacked love so he drank a lot. Deep down we are simple people. This was a curse."
Opening the case Nice court official Jocelyn Boyer said in November 2004 divorce proceedings had begun and Ms M'Barek feared she would be cut out of her husband's will.
Ms Boyer said that by having the earl killed it guaranteed Ms M'Barek would not be disinherited.
'Full responsibility'
The court was also told that Ms M'Barek transferred 140,000 Euros into her brother's account.
Testifying in his own defence, Mohammed M'Barek, 43, told the jury: "I am sorry to you. Pardon, please. It was only an accident. I hope that the family of my brother-in-law forgive me, his son, Lady Frances - pardon, please.
"If I deserve punishment, then give it to me. I take full responsibility for what happened. It all happened in one minute.
"I did everything I could to try and save him - I gave him mouth-to mouth. My sister is also a victim - I am the only one who is responsible for this affair," he added.
Earlier he said French justice was "scandalous" and appealed to French President Nicolas Sarkozy for help.
The 10th Earl of Shaftesbury, who was educated at Eton and Oxford in England, moved to France in 1999 and married for the third, and final, time in 2002.
He inherited his title from his grandfather at the age of 22, along with a 9,000-acre family estate in Dorset.