Fugitives Admit to Brutal Murder After 20 Years on the Run

Two Fugitives Admit Guilt After 20 Years

In a shocking turn of events, two men have admitted to the brutal 2003 murder of a French salesman, Philippe Charuel, after more than two decades on the run. The lifeless body of Charuel was discovered in a ditch by a road in Gondreville, eastern France, in February 2003.

The investigation revealed that two young prostitutes had reported being bothered by Charuel while he was leaving a bar near the train station in Nancy on the night of February 19, 2003. He was then taken into a black BMW by two men, later identified as Christian Rad and Vasile Ostas.

After nearly 22 years in hiding, the two fugitives, who were involved in pimping according to the Spanish police, were arrested in August 2023 near Barcelona. They had been living in Catalonia for about 20 years, under false identities. Rad had become the father of two children and worked as a concierge in a luxury hotel, while Ostas had become a security guard.

In court, Ostas admitted to the facts and expressed remorse, stating that he hit Charuel but did not intend to kill him. He also apologized to the victim's family and French society. Rad, Ostas' nephew, also admitted to hitting the victim in the presence of the two women and his uncle. He expressed shock at the violence and stated that he had thought about Charuel's family all evening.

Charuel, described as a man without a criminal history, frequented nightclubs and was recently separated from his wife. He was the father of a young child. His body was found with numerous injuries, including broken ribs, facial wounds, and a fractured jaw.

The verdict in the case is expected on Friday.