|
Thursday, January 13, 2005
German charged for murder of 3 foreigners, Pinoy
KALIBO -- A German man was charged Wednesday in the murder last year of three foreigners and a Filipino maid on a central Philippine resort island, prosecutors said.
Uwe Friesl, 37, and three unidentified "cohorts", including a woman, were accused in absentia of stabbing the victims in a hilltop mansion on Boracay island late on May 1, 2004.
Police said Anton Forstenhausler, a German resident of Boracay island; Manfred Schoeni, a 58-year-old Swiss art dealer who owns a vineyard in South Africa; John J. Cowperthwaite, a Hong-Kong based British architect; and Forstenhausler's maid, Irma Sarmiento--had been dead for more than 24 hours when discovered on May 3.
Provincial prosecutor Lourdes Quimpo-Mayor said Friesl's bloodied footprint was found by police in one of the mansion's bathrooms.
Friesl, who helped Forstenhausler build his mansion, told police he may have inadvertently stepped on the blood of one of the victims while leading investigators through the house.
Investigators, however, said they did not see Friesl enter the bathroom where his footprint was found when they were inspecting the house.
Witnesses also said Friesl was seen at the house around the time the murders were probably committed.
"We really do not know the motive, but there is the qualifying circumstance of evident premeditation and treachery, that is why he was indicted for murder," Mayor said.
All the victims were apparently killed while asleep in their bedrooms and showed no signs of struggle, she said.
Police investigator Nick Cogolio said the murders could not have been committed by one man, saying the investigation would uncover the other "cohorts."
He said two kitchen knives, with bloodstains on their handles, were recovered at the scene, but two laptop computers owned by Forstenhausler and Cowperthwaite were missing.
Jaime Ma. Flores II, Friesl's lawyer, said he will appeal the prosecutor's resolution finding his client, who has been a longtime personal friend along with Forstenhauser, liable for the murder.
"I feel that the evidence was completely disregarded," he said, citing statements from many persons who said that Friesl was with them on May 1. He also said the possible motive cited by investigators, alleged revenge at being scolded by Forstenhausler on April 30, was "physically impossible" because Friesl was on ferry on his way to Boracay.
"I only wish that justice can be done for both of my friends--Anton the victim who died, and my client who was wrongfully accused," he said. "I believe that (real killers) are at still large and justice will not be served by this resolution."
Flores said Friesl "is still around" and will not leave the country.
"He does not want to flee. He wants to stay here and to prove his innocence," he said.
Boracay, about 310 kilometers (195 miles) southeast of Manila, is famed for its powdery white-sand beaches. (AP)
(January 13, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
WHO experts to probe blood illness cases in RP