Home World Nurse investigated over £12m Michael Schumacher blackmail plot ‘was raped at F1 driver’s family estate’, claims

Nurse investigated over £12m Michael Schumacher blackmail plot ‘was raped at F1 driver’s family estate’, claims

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Michael Schumacher of Germany and Ferrari during the first qualifying session for the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit on April 2, 2005.

A woman under investigation for her part in a £12million plot to blackmail F1 legend Michael Schumacher stole compromising material from him after she was “raped” at his property, it has been claimed.

The explosive claim was made by a lawyer defending one of three men on trial for trying to extort money from the former seven-time F1 champion, who has not been seen in public since a skiing accident in 2013.

Schumacher’s former bodyguard Markus Fritsche is currently on trial with two alleged accomplices for allegedly stealing compromising material from his boss in private situations, such as doctor appointments, and then using it to blackmail him.

The rape claim was brought by Fritsche’s lawyer, who stunned the court when he shockingly claimed that an unidentified “acquaintance” of the famous driver’s son, Mick, had raped a nurse on his property.

Lawyer Harald Benninghoven suggested that the woman was raped at the estate during a party five years ago and therefore had a “motive” to take revenge on the Schumacher family because she felt the rape had not been taken seriously.

The rape allegation was made by Benninghoven when he was questioning a witness in the blackmail case, Schumacher’s former manager Sabine Kehm.

Michael Schumacher of Germany and Ferrari during the first qualifying session for the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit on April 2, 2005.

Schumacher lives and receives treatments at his £50 million mansion in Gland, Switzerland

Schumacher lives and receives treatments at his £50 million mansion in Gland, Switzerland

Schumacher's former bodyguard Markus Fritsche is being prosecuted along with two alleged accomplices for allegedly stealing compromising material from his boss in private situations.

Schumacher’s former bodyguard Markus Fritsche is being prosecuted along with two alleged accomplices for allegedly stealing compromising material from his boss in private situations.

Provoking loud gasps of surprise throughout the courtroom, he asked Ms Kehm: “What do you know about a rape said to have been carried out on a nurse on Schumacher’s property in 2019?”

He continued: “This is the subject of a separate investigation by the Swiss authorities, but it would be a reason.”

It is understood that he meant that it would be a reason for the complainant in the rape case to have taken the material that his client had allegedly stolen.

Mrs Kehm responded to his explosive question: “I know nothing about this and it does not involve the Schumacher family.” You’ve made sure everyone knows now, but we had nothing to do with it.

Outside court, journalists asked Mr Benninghoven to expand on his claims, and he told MailOnline: ‘The nurse was summoned to testify at a previous hearing.

‘She received a letter from her lawyer saying she was ill and would not be able to attend.

“The letter also made reference to this case of sexual assault at Schumacher’s premises, which allegedly took place during a party, which is currently the subject of an investigation, and which involved an acquaintance of Michael Schumacher’s son.”

That son, Mick Schumacher, 25, is also a racing driver and had a contract with Mercedes last year, but there is no indication he was involved in the alleged attack on the nurse that allegedly took place at a party in 2019.

No further clues were given as to the identity of the rapist.

And the family tried to downplay his importance in connection with the blackmail case.

Michael Schumacher (pictured in 2010) has not been seen in public since a terrible skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013.

Michael Schumacher (pictured in 2010) has not been seen in public since a terrible skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013.

Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher (left), Formula 1 world champion, poses in Madonna di Campiglio with his wife Corinna on January 16, 2003.

Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher (left), Formula 1 world champion, poses in Madonna di Campiglio with his wife Corinna on January 16, 2003.

Schumacher appears alongside his wife Corinna, son Mick and daughter Gina in this image taken from the 2021 Netflix documentary Schumacher.

Schumacher appears alongside his wife Corinna, son Mick and daughter Gina in this image taken from the 2021 Netflix documentary Schumacher.

Thilo Damm, the Schumacher family lawyer, told MailOnline: “This claim is totally independent of the blackmail case, and we are not involved at all, and when I say we, I mean the whole family, from Michael to Corinna and Mick Junior”.

‘We don’t know what stage the investigation is at because we are not part of it.

“I think it was an attempt by the lawyer to divert attention from his client.”

That client, former trusted bodyguard Markus Fritsche, is on trial alongside father and son Yilmaz Tozturkan and Daniel Lins.

The case is being examined in Wuppertal, Germany.

Although the rape allegation first emerged this week, the nurse allegedly raped has been mentioned several times during the trial as a possible alternative culprit.

Last month, Kehm and Fritsche’s lawyer claimed that the nurse, who was fired by the racing ace’s family in October 2020, was involved in the blackmail.

The blackmail case centers on hard drives stolen from Schumacher’s home in the Swiss town of Gland that contain images and videos of the stricken star and confidential medical data.

In June this year, the Schumacher family were contacted and told in a series of calls and emails that the material would be “published on the dark web” unless a £12 million ransom was paid.

The bouncer at the Tozturkan nightclub, pictured, told the court that the details had been given to him

The Tozturkan nightclub bouncer, pictured, told the court the details had been “transmitted” to him by “a nurse who needed money”.

The doorman of the Tozturkan nightclub, 53, told the court that the details had been “transmitted to him” by “a nurse who needed money”, while Kehm told the court that she and Fritsche “got along very well”.

Mrs Kehm added: “I remember I used to see Fritsche and this particular nurse together, talking, they got along very well.

‘But eventually she left, we had problems with her, we had problems with the way care was provided. We saw some unpleasant things. “First she left, then he (Fritsche) left.”

Kehm later went on to say that he “suspected” the nurse had downloaded information from a computer used in the alleged blackmail, as she “had access to the codes and passwords.”

The nurse, a 38-year-old French citizen, has not been charged with any crime, but authorities in Switzerland, where the Schumacher family lives, are said to be investigating whether she had any direct involvement.

Her LinkedIn page, which has now been deleted, showed that the mother of one speaks four languages: French, English, Arabic and German and is a specialist in “VIP care” and “neurological rehabilitation.”

Computer expert Lins, 30, and Fritsche, 53, deny blackmail and insist they were trying to return the 1,500 images, 200 videos and medical notes as part of a “commercial transaction” and nothing more.

In the photo: The apartment block where Yilmaz Toztuerkan has an apartment in the city of Wuppertal in Germany.

In the photo: The apartment block where Yilmaz Toztuerkan has an apartment in the city of Wuppertal in Germany.

Immediately after the accident, Schumacher is believed to have been conscious and speaking, but was unable to answer questions and moved erratically (Schumacher is pictured in 2004).

Immediately after the accident, Schumacher is believed to have been conscious and speaking, but could not answer questions and moved erratically (Schumacher is pictured in 2004).

Fritsche worked for the Schumacher family for nine years until he was fired in 2021 and was working as a security guard at a Mercedes Benz factory when he was arrested last summer.

Tozturkan is currently in custody, his son is out on bail and they are both like Fritsche, all from Wuppertal.

Schumacher has not been seen in public since his skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013 and has suffered catastrophic brain injuries.

During a glittering 19-year F1 career, from 1991 to 2012, Schumacher raced for Ferrari, Mercedes and Benetton, amassing a fortune of £468 million, along with his seven titles and taking the checkered flag 91 times.

Prosecutors have asked for at least four years in prison for the three and Judge Birgit Neubert has adjourned the trial until next month, when it is expected to conclude.

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