Banker shot in latex suit

2005-03-04 16:13

Geneva - A prominent French businessman and banker who was murdered earlier this week in his flat in the Swiss city of Geneva was wearing a skin-tight latex suit when he was killed, Swiss newspapers reported on Friday.

Fifty year-old Edouard Stern, the son-in-law of Michel David-Weill, chairman of French investment bank Lazard, and head of an investment firm, was found dead in his bedroom with two bullet wounds to the head and one to the body, the Tribune de Geneve and Le Temps reported.

Stern's body was found in his city flat on Tuesday afternoon. So far, authorities have only confirmed that he was killed with a firearm.

Le Temps said Stern, who was separated from his wife, was known to have a "lively" nightlife and the newspapers reported that the investigation was looking into his private life as well as his business affairs.

Investigating magistrate Michel Graber, who is leading the probe, told Swiss television that Stern had probably opened the door to his killer or killers, since there was no sign of forced entry.

Stern had acquired a reputation as a ruthless businessman, and had been involved in several failed takeovers of major French industrial groups in recent years, as well his own €600m investment business.

His business interests also extended across the Atlantic and to eastern Europe or Russia as well as Israel.

- AFP