Police say racial slur motivated Bali suitcase killing

The motive for the Bali “suitcase killing” is now out. Indonesian police are saying American Sheila von Wiese-Mack’s murder was triggered when she called her daughter’s boyfriend a “nigger”, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald. 

In the same report, the SMH also shared that Bali criminal investigation chief Nengah Sadiarta alleged the murder weapon was a fruit bowl that was used to bludgeon von Weise-Mack, 62, over the head. Von Weise-Mack’s body was found in the back of a taxi, stuffed into a suitcase at the St Regis resort on August 12.

The victim’s daughter, Heather Mack, 19, blamed the murder on her boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, 21, said Nengah. “According to Heather, Tommy was offended by what the victim said during a quarrel in room 317,” said Nengah, as quoted by the SMH. “The victim called Tommy a nigger. Tommy retorted, saying, ‘Your husband was a “nigger” too’. Sheila then said, ‘Yes, but a rich one’.”

Scahefer was originally meant to be interrogated on Thursday, but since his family is appointing him another lawyer, the interrogation was postponed. There’s talk of  Muhammad Rifan, who represented five of the Bali nine, taking the position. 

Reports were released two weeks ago erroneously stating that Schaefer had already confessed to killing von Wiese-Mack.