An emigrated German retired couple was killed in Portugal. (Symbolic image) © Rico Ködder/Imago
A couple from Germany has become the victim of a gruesome crime. Their bodies have been found at their country estate in Portugal – one month after the murder.
Lisbon – A couple from Germany had settled in a country house in the south of Portugal. The couple, now elderly, aged 79 and 71, had emigrated many years ago. Now the police have discovered their bodies in their property in the hills of Baleizão (Beja). However, the emigrants died in mid-April.
Pensioners killed in Portugal: German emigrants take in guests – a short time later they are dead
According to the police, the victims were killed by a "blunt object". Two suspects, a woman (37) and a man (54) were arrested on Friday (May 12). There is solid evidence that they killed the two Germans, police said. The suspects are said to have lived with the German pensioners at the time of the crime. The personal relationship is said to have "deteriorated," according to the police press release.
German pensioners killed in Portugal – son sounds the alarm
The double murder was only discovered after the son had sounded the alarm because he could no longer reach his parents. This is reported by the state TV channel RTP. The son also contacted the German embassy in Lisbon, whereupon the Portuguese authorities were called in. Police discovered the two dead in their country house on May 10. The bodies of the couple are said to have been found already in an advanced state of decomposition. In addition, according to local media reports, the couple's two cars are said to have disappeared.
Murder of German retired couple in Portugal: police arrest two suspects
The German couple is said to have been last seen in the community on April 10. The two had asked the municipal administration for help in cleaning up their property. However, the excavator driver did not reach the couple to make an appointment. Apparently, the two emigrants took the suspects into their house during this time to do agricultural work. Why it came to the dispute, which then escalated in this way, is still open for the time being. (ml/dpa)
Portugal is forever associated with one of the most spectacular criminal cases of our time: the missing person case of Maddie McCann. On May 3, 2007, Madeleine MCann disappears from the apartment of a holiday resort. So far, there is no sign of life from the Briton. A German is under suspicion, but the matter is legally complicated.