The German Consul to Brazil Uwe Herbert Hahn – who stands accused of beating his Belgian husband to death after more than two decades together – has been placed by a Brazilian court on Interpol's list of fugitives after he fled to Germany on Sunday.
The German diplomat was first arrested and later charged over the death of his husband and Belgian national Walter Biot. After Hahn decided to flee to Germany over the weekend before the start of his trial, a Brazilian court has ruled to place him on Interpol's list of fugitives – which would put out an extradition request.
In a statement, the Rio de Janeiro court said that the judge had "ordered the protective custody of the German consul Uwe Herbert Hahn, who is accused of the murder of his husband, the Belgian Walter Biot, on 5 August".
The diplomat had been in custody since 6 August but was released last week following issues with the start of the trial. His passport had not been seized, which facilitated Hahn's escape back to Germany.
Hahn was arrested in his apartment in Rio de Janeiro in early August after the lifeless body of his husband was discovered there. Hahn told police that Biot had suffered a fatal fall at their beachfront penthouse. Hahn claimed that Biot had a fit, then began running towards the apartment's balcony, tripped on a rug, and hit his head, which caused a fatal injury.
Suspicious circumstances
However, police have stated that Biot's body was covered in bruises, including some of which appear to have come from being 'stomped' on, and that he had lesions from an 'aggression with a cylindrical object' that were not consistent with a fall. In addition, investigators found traces of blood throughout their home.
Walter Biot and Uwe Herbert Hahn.
Hahn is said to have told officers that Biot suffered from a drinking problem and often took sleeping pills, also claiming that Biot had acted 'strangely' in the days before he died and that he seemed 'panicked or nervous'. Hahn then claimed that after he heard his husband 'groaning' on the floor that Hahn then thought he was drunk again and tried to get him to bed.
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Yet forensic examinations found that Biot died from a wound to the back of the head, and not the front, which would have been the case if he had fallen forwards. Biot's multiple injuries pushed investigators to suspect that his death came from violence.
"The version of events given by the consul, that the victim suffered a fall, is incompatible with the conclusions of the forensics report," said Officer Camila Lourenço in a post on social media by Rio de Janeiro's 14th police precinct.
"The body is a clear indication of the circumstances of the death."
Hahn will not keep diplomatic immunity due to the severity of the crime, reported Brazilian media. The German embassy have not yet responded to a request for comment, according to a range of news outlets. However, both the embassy and the consulate in Rio de Janeiro are cooperating in the investigation by the Brazilian authorities, sources have told CNN.
