By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-11 15:41:53 | Updated at 2024-12-22 06:59:21
1 week ago
A nurse sacked for ‘poor care’ while looking after Michael Schumacher has been accused of being involved in a £12million blackmail plot against his family.
The woman, who is in her 30s and whose identity is known to MailOnline, was due to give evidence in the bombshell trial that started on Tuesday against one of Schumacher’s former bodyguards and two other men.
Markus Fritsche, 53, nightclub bouncer Yilmaz Tozturkan, also 53 and his IT expert son Daniel Lins, 30, are said to have demanded the money after the private photos and medical data of Schumacher were obtained from a computer.
The seven-time world champion has not been seen in public since a horrific ski accident in the French Alps in 2013.
The nurse is named in the official indictment as ‘being involved’ but she has not been charged with any offence.
At the opening of the trial in Wuppertal, Tozturkan said Fritsche, who was employed by the Schumacher family for nine years, had passed him the material saying he had ‘got it from a nurse’.
Tozturkan told the court:’ Fritsche said the nurse was in need of money, and the plan was to sell the material and split it three ways, me, him and her.
‘I didn’t actually meet her; I saw a picture of her and that’s it.’
Michael Schumacher (pictured) has not been seen in public since a horrific ski accident in the French Alps in 2013
Markus Fritsche (pictured) is accused of trying to blackmail the Schumacher family
Nightclub bouncer Yilmaz Tozturkan (pictured) is alleged to have taken part in the plot
The woman has not been charged with any offence but authorities in Switzerland – where the Schumacher family live - are said to be investigating whether she had any direct involvement.
Her online Linkedin CV, which has now been deleted shows that she speaks four languages – French, English, Arabic and German and she is a specialist in ‘VIP care’ and ‘neuro-rehabilitation’.
In her evidence Schumacher’s manager of more than 25 years Sabine Kehm described how a nurse involved with his care following his accident ‘appeared to get on very well with Markus Fritsche’.
She added: ‘I remember I used to see Fritsche and this particular nurse standing together talking, they got on very well.
‘But eventually she left, we had issues with her, we had problems with how care was delivered. We saw some unpleasant things First she left, then he left.’
Ms Kehm did not explain what the ‘unpleasant things’ were but added: ’There was a computer that carers and medical staff had access to, and they have the codes, if someone else accessed that computer it would have been noticed.
‘Corinna [Schumacher’s wife] and I automatically suspected it could have been her; it can only have been her.’
Tozturkan said in court he was given the material which included more than 1,500 photos, videos and medical notes by Fritsche, and he told him: ’We can definitely do something with this.’
Heike Puschmann, another Schumacher employee, told the court: ’Prosecutors say the material contains highly personal information which show Schumacher with his family before and after the skiing accident.’
Markus Fritsche (L), Daniel Lins (fourth to the right wearing black roll neck) and Yilmaz Tozturkan (behind) in court today
Formula one World champion Ferrrari driver Michael Schumacher (L) poses in Madonna di Campiglio with his wife Corinna 16 January 2003
Tozturkan’s lawyer Oliver Doelfs said: ’My client knows very little about this woman, he saw a photo her once, he has no contact with her and doesn’t know her.
‘The nurse lives in Switzerland and the German authorities have no way of questioning her, there are supposed to be proceedings against her, but they are stonewalling they won’t give us any information.’
Heike Puschmann, another Schumacher employee, told the court that she had received emails from Fritsche after he had been dismissed from his job with the family in 2021.
She said: 'He had demanded more money, it was around three months’ pay, he was saying that if he didn’t get is pay he would go after the Schumacher family.’
Later in statement to MailOnline, a spokesperson for Wuppertal court said: 'One of the defendants in the matter, accused a nurse who had previously worked for the Schumacher family of being involved in the crime.
'The public prosecutor's office will evaluate these statements in detail based on the current status of the investigation.
'A decision will then be made here as to whether an investigation should be initiated against the accused person.
'Whether, and if, the accused nurse will be summoned and heard as a witness by Wuppertal court remains to be decided.'
Tozturkan's lawyer Oliver Doelfs told MailOnline: 'You have to wonder why my client would claim that Fritsche secured the information from her, this is because only the carers employed by the Schumacher family had the password for the computer.
'You also saw in court witnesses give evidence that the nurse and Fritsche were close and seemed to have more than what one would call a collegial relationship.
'Technically she is not obliged to speak because is living in Switzerland and she could incriminate herself so now it is up to the court to decide if they will summon her.'
