British Man Faces Murder Charge After Girlfriend Shot Dead in Rural France
A British man has been formally charged with the murder of his English girlfriend after she was fatally shot at their home in the French countryside. George Goodayle, aged 47, is accused of killing his 49-year-old partner, Jayne Nicholson, with two blasts from a hunting rifle on Sunday evening.
Police Discover Lifeless Body at Village Property
Law enforcement officers entered the property located in the village of Les Champs, near Brillac, where they discovered what the Public Prosecutor's statement described as 'a lifeless body'. Goodayle, a former Dreamboys exotic dancer and model, reportedly turned himself in to authorities on Monday following the alleged shooting incident the previous evening.
During subsequent questioning, Goodayle told investigators the shooting was accidental, but prosecutors have proceeded with charging him with the murder of a spouse using a firearm. He has been remanded in custody while the investigation continues.
Autopsy Confirms Two Gunshot Wounds to Upper Body
An autopsy conducted at the forensic institute in Poitiers revealed that Nicholson had sustained two gunshot wounds to her upper body, according to official statements from the Angoulême prosecutor's office. 'The on-site examination by the forensic pathologist confirmed the presence of two ballistic wounds in the victim's upper body,' the statement detailed.
Investigators recovered a hunting rifle from the couple's residence, and the case has been transferred to gendarmes from the Confolens research brigade for further investigation. No clear motive has been established at this stage of the inquiry.
Relationship Background and Previous Legal History
The couple, both British nationals, had been in a relationship since June 2025. Goodayle has a previous legal history dating back to 2000 when he was arrested by Cambridgeshire Police after repeatedly beating a burglar with a metal baseball bat.
The high-profile case involved David Summers, then aged 21, who suffered a broken wrist, fractured elbow, cracked ribs, and a cracked skull after breaking into the Peterborough home where Goodayle, then 21, was living as a lodger with Lee Gapper, 20. Summers was arrested minutes after fleeing the property and complained to police about being assaulted by the residents.
Although both Gapper and Goodayle were arrested and held for 12 hours, the Crown Prosecution Service ultimately decided not to bring charges against them. Goodayle stated at the time that he had grabbed the intruder and punched him three to four times, remarking: 'He deserved what he got.'
Social Media History and Personal Background
Social media posts from 2011 indicate Goodayle worked as a dancer for the well-known male strip show Dreamboys. In March 2011, he wrote on social media: 'I'm gorgeous George from the world famous male strip show the Dreamboys.' Additional posts referenced performances in London's West End and Manchester.
In October of last year, just months after the couple met, Nicholson shared a loving image of the pair on Facebook while wishing her partner a happy birthday. Her message read: 'Id like to wish George Goodayle a big fat happy birthday. This has been the most unexpected summer ever. I was definitely not expecting to meet anyone like you out here. And I'm sure you didn't expect me. My very own dream boy and that you are. Have an amazing day, I'm sure you will as it's with me. And I'm looking forward to lots more adventures with you. Love you lots and lots xxxx'.
Family Tragedy and Media Inquiries
Goodayle previously appeared in local Peterborough news in 2021 when his daughter, Zara El-Imad, then 17, sustained multiple injuries in a traffic collision that claimed the life of her friend. Zara, a student at Peterborough Regional College, was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge following the crash and was left in critical condition.
The Daily Mail has approached the Foreign Office for comment regarding the current case, though no official statement has been released at this time. The investigation into Nicholson's death continues as French authorities gather evidence and examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.
