14 Oct 2011

Remains found in French Polynesia search for missing German

4:17 pm on 14 October 2011

Forensic experts in French Polynesia will analyse remains found after a fire in a remote Nuku Hiva valley feared to be those of a missing German tourist, Stefan Ramin

The public prosecutor has told local radio the remains will be sent from the Marquesas Islands to a laboratory in Papeete.

The place of the fire was discovered after a 20-strong police force was sent to Nuku Hiva searching for Mr Ramin and a local guide, Henri Haiti, who is alleged to have assaulted Mr Ramin's wife.

Last weekend, Mr Ramin had gone on a hunting trip with Mr Haiti who later fetched his wife after telling her that her husband had been injured.

According to her testimony, she followed him but he then tried to sexually assault her and tied her to a tree.

She managed to escape and raised the alarm.

The German couple had been living on a yacht and, according to their website, planned to spend the next few months in French Polynesian waters.