A Balinese tourist was reportedly murdered on the street by two male killers while his girlfriend was forced to watch the spectacle.
René Pauw, 49, was visiting the picturesque Indonesian island with his partner when two men on motorcycles approached the couple outside their villa.
The Dutch tourist was staying in Kerobokan, a town in the south holidays Hotspot Island, with his Indonesian girlfriend.
His alleged attackers had large knives – local reports revealed that one had used a samurai sword.
They launched a vicious attack, according to the man’s girlfriend, who told police she witnessed her partner’s brutal murder.
She told police that Rene tried to defend himself – but he was stabbed all over his body.
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He suffered injuries on his head, neck, shoulders, lower thighs, hands and arms.
René was taken to hospital by ambulance but died en route.
When he reached the hospital after bleeding heavily, he was declared dead.
His girlfriend claimed that René’s killer had chased her down the street, still holding a knife stained with her lover’s blood.
Another witness said he had heard screams before seeing the alleged killers.
It is said that after this the suspected killers fled from the spot on a motorcycle.
It is believed that one of the attackers was wearing a black and green jacket similar to that worn by delivery drivers.
Local police chief Ketut Agus Pasek Sudina said René’s partner was forced to go into hiding after the attack.
The officer said: “The victim’s girlfriend hid in a dark area in front of villa number four as the criminal wearing the Ozol jacket targeted her.
“It was only after he felt safe and saw the criminals running towards the main road that he dared to come out.”
Coroner Nola Margaret Gunawan, a forensic medicine expert, said she had examined the tourist’s body.
He said the popular tourist island has seen a significant increase in violent murders.
The coroner said: “From the first day I started working in Bali, until the end of 2024, I performed an autopsy on a murder victim.
“But in the first six months of 2025, I found one murder victim every month, and that was only when I was on duty.
“This is the second murder victim I’ve found this year, and we’re still in March.”
The suspected murder investigation continues as police try to identify a motive.
Police said none of Rene’s belongings were stolen.
Dutch media speculated that René was “on the run” for drug crimes, but The Hague’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not confirm the rumors.
