French authorities have detained a British national on suspicion of murder. The man, identified as George Goodayle, 47, is accused of fatally shooting his partner with a hunting rifle at their residence. The incident occurred near Brillac, in the southwest region of France.

The victim, 49-year-old Jayne Nicholson, was found with two gunshot wounds to her upper body. Investigators recovered a hunting rifle at the scene. Goodayle reportedly surrendered to police and has maintained that the shooting was accidental. French police have indicated that neither Goodayle nor Nicholson had any prior criminal records in France.

According to official statements from the French police, the couple had been together since June 2025. Goodayle appeared before a court on Wednesday. Prosecutor Benoît Bernard informed the BBC that Goodayle has been formally placed under investigation and will remain in detention pending his trial. Authorities have also stated that no prior reports or complaints of domestic violence concerning the couple had been filed with investigators.

Local media, including the Doncaster Free Press, reported that Nicholson had previously resided in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, before relocating to France. The newspaper characterized Nicholson as an ardent “dog breeder and horse lover” who managed Croft Farm, a boarding kennel located in the village of Thorpe in Balne. French police confirmed that Goodayle had been living in Brillac since 2016.

Social media postings suggest a past career for Goodayle in the United Kingdom. Evidence from Facebook indicates he previously worked as a dancer for Dreamboys, a male entertainment troupe. A post from 2013 referred to him by the moniker “Gorgeous George.” Dreamboys has been approached for comment regarding this information. The BBC has also reached out to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for their statement.