Remember Jacinta Rees? Aussie woman murdered on Algarve?

No, her family are still no further forward - this is just a timely reminder.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/jacinta-rees-murdered-covered-up-by-portugal-police/story-e6frf7l6-1225942761917

Portugese police covered up murder of Jacinta Rees, says family

by: By Laurie Nowell and Lucy Carne From: Sunday Herald Sun October 24, 2010 12:00AM



Melbourne woman Jacinta Rees died after she was hit four times in the head with an axe / Supplied Supplied

Foreign police say axe death was suicide
Family "let down by our Government"
Wants more answers to suspicious death
A MELBOURNE woman was murdered in Portugal and her death covered up by police there, a Sunday Herald Sun investigation has found.

Former international model and fashion executive Jacinta Rees was hacked to death with an axe at her cottage in the Algarve, in southern Portugal, two years ago.

In a sequence of events chillingly similar to the death of Britt Lapthorne, local police claim the death was a suicide - despite a coronial examination in Australia finding she died of extensive injuries caused by repeated blows with an axe and evidence of defensive wounds on her arms and legs.

"Jacinta's skull had been caved in with an axe. She clearly had defensive wounds also," said Jacinta's sister-in-law Louise.

"She suffered a horrendous death and she most certainly fought for her life.


"The GNR (Portugese national police) determined this was a suicide and our embassy concurred."

Family members have been investigating the mystery of her killing ever since. They say they have received little help from the Australian Government.

Portuguese authorities contacted by the Sunday Herald Sun would not provide any information.

The family claims consular officials botched its initial dealings with the Portuguese and have abandoned the family in its search for the truth.

"All we want is to know the truth about what happened to her. She was our sister and our parents' child - she deserves better than this," said Jacinta's brother, Cameron.

Suspicious death

Jacinta died in April 2008, in the courtyard of her home at Sao Bras de Alportel, near the city of Faro.

Portuguese police told local reporters her death was an accident, then said it was suicide.

But a Victorian Coroners' report says she died from "blunt force injury to the left side of the head".

"This injury pattern with trauma to both head and the left arm raises serious concerns. Further investigations are being undertaken via the Victorian Police Department's homicide squad," it concludes.

An initial Portuguese autopsy report also suggests Jacinta's death was a murder.

Despite those reports, the Portuguese police closed the investigation and passed the case on to the Interior Ministry as a diplomatic matter.

Crime theory

One theory about Jacinta's death was that she found out something that cost her life.

The area where she lived is a trafficking route from North Africa and the Middle East for the illegal trade in drugs - mostly hashish - and also in stolen children.

The village of Sao Bras de Alportel is 30km from the resort of Praia de Luz where British child Maddy McCann disappeared.

Her family said child smuggling was an issue Jacinta was concerned about and might have spoken up about.

"Jacinta may have stumbled across something," brother Cameron said.

"She left a note for someone saying she was leaving and she did not know how things would work out and asked that they forgive her, but the police construed it as a suicide note," he said.

"It wasn't a suicide note - she was scared of something.

'Let down by Government'

The Rees family said they felt let down by the Federal Government.

They said the Lapthorne family and the victims of the Kokoda air crash were given appropriate help and compassion while they had received little help.

The family had to pay for the repatriation of Jacinta's body - which took a month - and was eventually reimbursed by the Government.

"To this day, no one has given us an answer as to what happened to Jacinta. We've sent off letters to heaps of people in positions of influence. No one's interested, absolutely no one," she said.


The family received the Portuguese Assistant Prosecutor's report into Jacinta's death in December 2009 - almost two years after her death.

They have been quoted up to $19,000 to get it translated into English. The Federal Government has refused to help.

"Apart from the trauma and heartache, the financial impact on the family has been gruelling. Sorting out Jacinta's affairs meant Cam wasn't working and we had to cash in his long service leave to be able to afford to bring her home.

"We didn't qualify for victims of crime compensation in Australia because the crime occurred in Portugal and we didn't qualify for a similar scheme in Portugal because we are Australians."

The family said DFAT's mismanagement of the case had cost it financially and caused much heartache.

"Despite all the facts, DFAT has never acknowledged Jacinta's death as a murder," Louise said.

I actually corresponded with a journalist from down-under for sometime reference Jacinta. Last I heard, the family still hadn't received the full story.

I'm sorry to hear that, but not surprised, Tony. Interesting that it happened while someone was working his ticket at Faro, isn't it?

bb1 wrote:I'm sorry to hear that, but not surprised, Tony. Interesting that it happened while someone was working his ticket at Faro, isn't it?

Really does make you think, doesn't it.

It does indeed, Tony - it is an extra-ordinarily huge coincidence.

There seem to be too many co-incidences for my liking and the same names keep cropping up for various things

Jjust cant think whose names those are, for some reason

There are a few of them, aren't there, Sadie, all orbiting around Gonc. Almeida, Sargento, Cristovao, Carvalho and a few hangers on like Levy and co - and everything keeps coming back to them.

Hmmm, yes. Those names seem to ring a bell, BB1

I wonder why?

This is about the last thing from Portugal about Jacinta.

Family assesses death of Jacinta Rees
Updated: 10-Dec-2010


Family members of Jacinta Rees, an Australian woman who was found dead at her home in São Brás de Alportel in March 2008 have met with officials in Australia to discuss the case.

A meeting in Melbourne was held between the family and members of the Australian Federal Police, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Victoria Police and the Coroner’s office.

Cam Rees, the brother of Jacinta, told Australian press that “there was no possible way” that the injuries sustained by Jacinta were self inflicted and is calling for the Australian Government to review her case.

He added: “We want to find out the truth about what happened to Jacinta. We have had to do this investigation ourselves.”

An Australian Federal Police review of the case would require the Australian Government to gain approval from Portuguese authorities.

http://www.algarveresident.com/39419-0/algarve/family-assesses-death-of-jacinta-rees

Thanks, Max. So, Jacinta's family are in the same position as the McCanns, unless the Portuguese police decide to investigate properly - which they won't, because they are covering up a mess, yet again.

Just a reminder of the sort of cover-up that really doesn't help the Algarve Tourist Board...

Another thread that is as shocking, reading about it today, as it was when it was started.

Bumping as I see this poor woman's death is being discussed elsewhere. Discerning readers may find the date of her death.....interesting.