London/Paris, March 9 (IANS) A French man killed his wife of over 21 years as she didn't want to have children, a media report said Tuesday. The man then told the police: 'Excuse me for disturbing you, I've killed my wife.'

Postal inspector Philippe Cousin, 53, told the police that he had a 'mid life crisis' when he approached his 50th year without a son or daughter. He blamed it on his 47-year-old wife Nicole, who remained a virgin despite being married to him for two decades, Daily Mail reported.

Following an argument, Cousin allegedly took a kitchen knife to his wife's neck before slicing her head off.

The crime took place in April 2007 but Cousin went on trial in France Tuesday. He appeared before a judge at the Pas-de-Calais assizes at Saint-Omer, near Calais. He faces life in prison for murder.

Cousins also told the police: 'I'm sorry for the work which I've given you. My wife shouted my name out, I decapitated her. You realise that, and I'm not mad!'

He said his wife's inability to have children was responsible for their arguments. She apparently feared that she would pass on her father's multiple sclerosis through his genes, the court was told.

This meant that every time he tried to have sex he was rebuffed. An autopsy confirmed that Nicole was indeed a virgin when she died, the media report said.