The Austrian Honorary Consul in The Bahamas Ernst Rumer said he was working to ensure minimum fallout for The Bahamas from the murders of two visiting Austrian tourists, one of whom was a member of the Austrian aristocracy and the other the son of an affluent doctor.
Police indicated yesterday that there were no new leads into the slayings of Barbara Frelln von Perfall, a baroness and her companion Bernhard Bolzano.
“A case like this would be in the headlines in Austria,” said Mr. Rumer. “It could have a spin off, but I don’t think that it would be as drastic because we are all human beings.
“I would say on my behalf and the behalf of the Austrian Embassy that we are trying very hard to keep the reaction as low as possible. But I do hope that we have a breakthrough very soon and the breakthrough points outside The Bahamas and not in the country.”
Mr. Rumer said that the Austrian government was aware of the incident since Sunday, reasoning that the matter would have been more profound if authorities were not vigorously pursing closure.
“As long as we can point out that the police is doing whatever they can, I think that the implication would be significantly lowered. If the government feels that the police is not thoroughly investigating, the damage would be much worse,” he said.
Ironically, Mr. Rumer indicated that he had conversed with two more Austrian vacationers who were staying at The Royal Palm Resort in Nassau. They reportedly told him that they would have still proceeded with their vacation plans here had they known about the murders beforehand.
Police reported on Monday they had no prime suspects, had not ascertained a motive in the murders and were uncertain about a time of death. Investigators disclosed that there were no signs of forced entry into the hotel room where the bodies were found and there was no evidence that the slayings were drug related.
Residents in Bimini, a quaint boating village that is almost solely dependent on tourism earnings, seemed determined to spread the message that the incident was an isolated one.
Brenda Bullard, deputy administrator for Bimini and Cat Cay said that although residents are upset and concerned by the incident, they are ready to put it behind them.
“Bimini being a Family Island setting, a fun loving setting, a friendly and cheerful setting, off course the residents would be saddened,” said Ms. Bullard as she launched a simultaneous plea to tourists. “Bimini is still a fun loving place and is still a family place where you can still come and feel safe, secure and enjoy the friendship and the warmth of the people. We are still welcoming all with open arms. We hope that the incident that took place would not discourage others from traveling to Bimini.”
There has never been a double homicide on Bimini, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police responsible for crime Reginald Ferguson.
In another development, Jens Fritzenwalden, a von Perfall family friend told the Bahama Journal that the couple was engaged to be married after a seven-year relationship.
He said that the von Perfall family owns a successful textile factory in Salzburg, Austria.
By: Perez Clarke, The Bahama Journal
