American Sentenced to 30 Years for Killing Estranged Wife and Her Partner Near Paris

A man from the United States has been convicted by a French court and given a 30-year prison sentence for the murder of his former spouse and her partner in a Paris suburb in 2020.

Fifty-year-old Charles Dietrich was found guilty of fatally shooting his ex-wife, the mother of their three children, and her new companion in Saint-Maur-des-Fosses, located on the outskirts of southeastern Paris, back in July 2020.

The court in Creteil, a suburb of Paris, mandated a sentence of at least 20 years and revoked Dietrich's rights as a parent.

"You've continuously denied the allegations without showing any remorse or self-reflection," remarked the presiding judge.

The judge added: "Your claim of being a responsible father contradicts your actions. I trust you comprehend this."

Dietrich responded affirmatively, saying, "I do," in English.

Relatives of Dietrich noted ongoing disputes with his wife Aurelie involving custody arrangements for their three daughters.

Court documents reviewed by the Denver Gazette reveal that, according to witnesses, Dietrich felt she had 'taken' their children by gaining primary custody.

The children lived in France with their mother but joined their father in the U.S. during Christmas and summer breaks.

The victims were discovered unclothed and shot multiple times in Aurelie's bedroom, with 18 shell casings found at the scene.

Aurelie, aged 43, and Christophe, 42, had been acquainted for just two weeks when they were killed.

Separated in 2015, the couple was progressing through a divorce.

For privacy reasons, AFP is withholding the surnames of his wife and her partner.

In court, Dietrich maintained his innocence, claiming he had been set up. An interpreter assisted him during the trial.

Disguises and Motives

The judge questioned him about potential adversaries who might have orchestrated the double murder in Saint-Maur-des-Fosses to implicate him.

Clarifying, the judge stated, "He wasn’t affiliated with the CIA."

Despite being in France at the incident time, Dietrich admitted to a brief, undercover visit but did not inform his family, who were with him in the United States.

His arrest occurred in August 2020 at his Briargate home, not far from Colorado Springs.

Dietrich acknowledged visiting Aurelie's residence but denied forcibly entering it.

While reviewing crime scene photos, he described the setting as 'gruesome' yet denied involvement.

He accused the investigating officers of bias and tampering with evidence, asserting that "the police believe the law pertains only to others, not themselves."

Prosecutor Stephanie Gauthier characterized the attack as a calculated 'private war' to reclaim his daughters, asserting it followed meticulous planning.

The prosecutor argued Dietrich decided that reuniting with his children necessitated Aurelie's death, planning his actions carefully to execute this objective.

Evidence collected by investigators was substantial.

Video footage captured someone near Aurelie’s residence in a wig, gloves, and mask, and showed Dietrich returning to his hotel early the next morning.

Subsequent searching led to a gun frame's recovery from the Marne River.

Ballistic assessments linked the firearm to a 2019 purchase in Colorado, facilitated through Dietrich's driver's license.

Dietrich’s attorney suggested his client might be in self-denial.

Yvan Bonet, his attorney, argued, "Acknowledging some facts reflect a semblance of humanity."