A family friend has testified that Sabrina Kouider, one of two people accused of murdering French nanny Sophie Lionnet, was 'abusive' and 'violent' towards her. The 21-year-old au pair was allegedly tortured and killed at the couple's home in Wimbledon, south-west London.
Steven Brown told the Old Bailey he witnessed Kouider screaming at Lionnet in French on multiple occasions when he visited the house in 2016. He described Kouider as 'abusive and aggressive - violent', adding that the nanny looked 'scared and hungry' and was wearing a jumper that covered her arms and neck during summer.
Brown said he was so concerned about Lionnet's wellbeing that he brought her a shepherd's pie. When he confronted Kouider about her behaviour, she allegedly dismissed Lionnet as 'lazy' and claimed she did not cook enough.
Lionnet's charred remains were discovered in the garden of the property on 20 September last year after neighbours raised concerns about a fire. The defendants, Kouider and Ouissem Medouni, have admitted attempting to dispose of her body but deny murder.
Prosecutor Richard Horwell QC previously told the court that more than eight hours of 'harrowing' recordings were recovered from the defendants' phones, depicting Lionnet as 'a young emaciated, frightened and helpless woman' being interrogated.
