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Rio de Janeiro:
Photo: Buda Mendes/ Getty Images
After the death of his husband, a German consular officer was taken into custody in Rio de Janeiro.
The suspect was taken to Benfica prison in Rio's north zone.
The German was provisionally arrested on Saturday.
He had initially requested an ambulance himself because his husband suddenly felt bad and fell.
He also took sleeping pills and drank a lot.
The Brazilian news portal "G1" has now published a video in which the responsible police officer Camila Lourenço had the German consular officer reenact how his husband is said to have fallen before he died.
According to the judiciary, however, the autopsy report revealed various injuries to the corpse, which can be attributed to the use of force.
"The corpse screams out the circumstances of death," said Lourenço.
Traces of blood were found in the apartment, especially in the bedroom and bathroom.
After the autopsy, police assumed a blow to the back of the head resulted in death.
The judiciary pointed out that according to the autopsy report, the victim had several fresh and old injuries scattered all over his body.
This indicates that the man was subjected to severe physical suffering both on the day of death and before.
According to media reports, the German and his Belgian husband had been married for over 20 years.
The defense of the German had invoked consular immunity, according to a statement from the judiciary on Sunday evening (local time).
According to the judge, however, the possible crime in the couple's apartment has nothing to do with consular duties.
"The possible crime was not committed on inviolable territory, but on Brazilian soil," namely in the southern zone of Rio, police officer Lourenço told the dpa news agency.
Brazilian jurisprudence also distinguishes between a diplomatic representative and a consular officer.
"In this case, we're talking about a consular officer who has administrative duties."
When asked about the position and activities of the employee, the Consulate General initially did not comment.
The Foreign Office said the German embassy in Brasilia and the consulate general in Rio were in close contact with the authorities investigating the case.
mrc/dpa
