A woman has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of her partner and her lover, who admitted to the crime, in the French department of Puy-de-Dôme. The sentencing took place on Friday evening, September 18, after a trial at the court of assizes in Riom. The public prosecutor had asked for 30 years for Sophie Fernandes de Sousa and 24 years for Didier Chatard. The final sentence, announced after nearly six hours of deliberation, includes a ban on carrying weapons and a requirement for socio-judicial follow-up. Neither defendant reacted to the verdict. Sophie Fernandes de Sousa plans to appeal her conviction, while Didier Chatard will not. Sophie Fernandes de Sousa was found guilty of murdering and poisoning her partner, a 47-year-old commercial manager who was found in a bath of blood at his home, beaten and strangled with a tire iron. Didier Chatard was also sentenced for murder, but only for "complicity in poisoning." The deputy prosecutor, Jade Godeau, noted in her indictment that both were equally involved, but she argued that Sophie Fernandes de Sousa "incapable of questioning herself" and emphasized that "when one admits the facts, there must be a substantial difference in the sentence." Didier Chatard's lawyers, Antoine Portal and Maud Vian, described him as a man consumed by love for his mistress but who eventually saw through her lies. They emphasized that Chatard's confession was sincere and not contradicted by any physical evidence. Vian also noted that Chatard had the "courage of the truth" and that she had "rarely seen a man present himself in this way before the court of assizes." The defense for Sophie Fernandes de Sousa attempted to cast doubt on the evidence, focusing on her statements and dismissing financial motives. Her lawyers argued that she had money and would not have resorted to such violent acts. They also pointed out that she had previously separated from a former husband. Despite these arguments, Sophie Fernandes de Sousa defended herself confidently during the trial, while Didier Chatard admitted to everything, including a poisoning attempt that preceded the murders. He stated the operation's goal was to kill Stéphane Ragon. Sophie Fernandes de Sousa's daughter, who had served as an alibi for the couple, weakened her mother's defense by stating that her statements were false "from A to Z." She had previously claimed to have seen them return that night "covered in blood." The victim, Stéphane Ragon, was described by his circle as "sunny," "kind," and "considerate." His girlfriend had received a final message from him before he went to bed: "Goodnight my dear, I love you."