VIP Party Planner Accused Of Strangling And Pushing Girlfriend Off Balcony Released From Custody

The German VIP events planner dubbed the ‘Party King’, who was arrested on suspicion of fatally pushing his girlfriend off her balcony, has been released from custody after nearly 10 months behind bars.

Daniel Hoeferlin, 49, has hosted the likes of Dustin Hoffmann, George Clooney, Heidi Klum and Denzel Washington at his VIP parties, and has accused the public prosecutor’s office of prejudice.

He was released from pre-trial detention on Friday, 26th November, after initially being arrested on suspicion of the murder of his girlfriend Anja Koerner, 39, earlier this year.

Famous party organizer from Berlin Daniel Hoeferlin, who was imprisoned after a corpse was found in his backyard in Basel. (@danielhoeferlin/Newsflash)

The victim was found dead in the back garden of her apartment block in the residential district of Gundeldinger in the Swiss city of Basel on 8th February.

The Swiss weekly magazine Weltwoche had reported earlier this month that forensic evidence pointed to strangulation marks present on the victim’s neck.

The victim, who worked as a masseuse, reportedly had bruises on one side of her neck and her hyoid bone – a U-shaped bone in the neck that supports the tongue – and larynx were broken.

Famous party organizer from Berlin Daniel Hoeferlin, who was imprisoned after a corpse was found in his backyard in Basel. (@danielhoeferlin/Newsflash)

The arrest was carried out on the day she died, and he was remanded in custody because as a German citizen with no fixed address in Switzerland, investigators felt there was a risk he might try to flee the country.

He had already requested his release in October, but the court agreed to give the prosecution another 10 weeks to bring charges. However, their position appears to have softened, as it was the prosecutors that on this occasion requested he be released.

They stressed, however, that the investigation was continuing, and it could still result in charges when it is concluded.

Famous party organizer from Berlin Daniel Hoeferlin, who was imprisoned after a corpse was found in his backyard in Basel. (@danielhoeferlin/Newsflash)

The suspect has always denied the accusations against him, describing the death as “a tragic accident”.

He said, as reported in the Swiss newspaper 20 Minuten: “The pain and grief over the loss of my life partner became almost unbearable while I was on remand in the prison.”

He added: “I want to fight for my complete rehabilitation.”

Famous party organizer from Berlin Daniel Hoeferlin, who was imprisoned after a corpse was found in his backyard in Basel. (@danielhoeferlin/Newsflash)

Authorities have refrained from providing more details, citing investigative secrecy.

Before Koerner’s death, the couple had been active in the party scene and often shared pictures of their VIP lifestyle online.

They presented themselves as a happy couple in public and could usually be spotted together.

Suspect Daniel Hoeferlin and his girlfriend, the victim Anja Koerner. (Anja Koerner/Newsflash)

Before the fatal incident, both were residing in Basel, where Hoeferlin had moved to be closer to the woman.