Two men charged after British pensioner, 85, beaten to death in idyllic French village

Two men have been charged after an 85-year-old British man was beaten to death in his French village home. Police found John Agner , a retired wood carver, with severe head injuries two weeks ago in his house an hour north of Pau. This after his stolen vehicle was chased at high speed and crashed in a dead end in Mont-de-Marsan, 25 miles away. The two men were held along with four others in a multi agency operation. Officers traced the registration plate officers traced to Mr Agner and made the horrific discovery in the early hours of Saturday, September 26. Detectives from the highly specialised Toulouse criminal investigation branch were involved in the operation to arrest the six men as well as local police. A 60-year-old suspect, who has not been named, was previously arrested in connection with the killing. Prosecutors have said the main suspect is a 32-year-old man with 21 previous convictions. The suspect had been charged with robbery preceded by or accompanied with violence resulting in death. He is also accused of the second attempted murder which took place last week involving a woman in her 70s. She is reported to have been attacked in her home in Mont-de-Marsan, where she was smothered. She survived the attack. The woman's car was stolen but later found by police with officers highlighting links between the two incidents.. A second man, 26, is held in connection with Mr Agner's death. Both men are locals and are being held in custody awaiting trial. No details of the other four held have been shared.