A COUPLE kept their French nanny "prisoner" in their own home - where she lived a "truly wretched" life until they beat her to death and burned her body in their garden, a court has heard.

Sophie Lionnet, 21, became "scared and hungry" while living with mum-of-two Sabrina Kouider who would shout and scream at her, the Old Bailey heard.

6 Sabrina Kouider, pictured, would shout and scream at the nanny, the Old Bailey heard Credit: Facebook

Behind closed doors, Sophie's treatment was "very much worse", prosecutors allege.

Kouider - and partner Ouissem Medouni - would levy "outlandish" and "malevolent" allegations against the young nanny to intimidate and control her, it is alleged.

She accused the young Frenchwoman of stealing a diamond pendant and plotting against her, the court heard.

Richard Horwell, prosecuting, said: "Precisely what was in Sabrina Kouider's mind may be difficult to determine but it seems that the more outlandish the allegations the more she pursued them, despite the fact they were denied and despite the fact there was no evidence to support them.

6 The court was told that Sophie 'became a prisoner in the Wimbledon home and she must have been terrified' Credit: Chris Eades

"Her allegations appear to have been contagious because Medouni was beguiled by Kouider and her obsessions and delusions and he began to adopt them himself.

"Eventually they confronted Sophie and wanted her to confess to conduct and crimes she had not committed.

"Sophie became a prisoner in the Wimbledon home and she must have been terrified.

"The defendants mistreated and intimidated Sophie in a manner that is way beyond anything that could be considered normal or rational.

6 Kouider and partner Ouissem Medouni

Parents of murdered French nanny leave court

6 Sophie Lionnet's mother Catherine Devallonne and father Patrick Lionnet outside the Old Bailey Credit: AFP or licensors

6 Stephane Devallonne, the stepfather of murdered French au-pair Sophie Lionnet Credit: AFP or licensors

"Sophie must have found this unnatural and increasingly toxic situation wholly outside her experience and ability to manage.

"At times she made confessions to please her oppressors and then would withdraw them.

"And so the pressure increased and so did the violence against her."

"The defendants mistreated and intimidated Sophie in a manner that is way beyond anything that could be considered normal or rational."

6 Court artist sketch by Ouissem Medouni, left 40, and his partner Sabrina Kouider, 34, appearing at the Old Bailey in London Credit: � Julia Quenzler

He added: "The pressure increased and so did the violence against her.

"The last days and hours of Sophie's life must have been truly wretched.

"She was subjected at times to a brutal and oppressive inquisition and to significant violence: there were fractures to her sternum, to four of her ribs, and to her jaw bone.

"She also had bruising to her left arm arm, back and chest."

Ms Lionnet died after suffering fractures to her sternum, four ribs and her jawbone.

Kouider and Medouni then tried to cover up the murder by burning her body in their garden, the court was told.

Tragic French nanny Sophie Lionnet, 21, giggling with son of Irish popstar ex

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Mr Horwell added: "The plan was to dispose of Sophie's body and to explain her disappearance by inventing a story that she had left under something of a cloud and had returned to France.

"Another missing person, no longer their responsibility, her disappearance nothing to do with them."

Their plan was only foiled when a neighbour became concerned about the fire and dialled 999, jurors were told.

Ms Lionnet's charred body was discovered at the house in Wimbledon Park Road on September 20 last year.

The trial continues.

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