British father, 48, 'stabbed to death by his Indonesian girlfriend in Bali while on video call home'

A British father-of-two who was found stabbed to death inside his home in Bali may have killed himself, local police have said. 

Matt Harper, 48, was found with multiple stab wounds inside his home on the Indonesian island at around 6.10am on Thursday – with previous reports suggesting he had been attacked while on a video call with his stepdaughter and ex-wife.

His current girlfriend, Emmy Pakpahan, believed to be in her 40s, was questioned in connection to his death after allegedly filming him as he lay dying on the floor before showing the macabre clip to investigators, in which she sobbed: ‘I don’t know what’s happened. I don’t know, I don’t know.’

She has now been released after being interrogated by detectives, although she remains under investigation. 

A police source in Indonesia told MailOnline that Matt was found with multiple stab wounds, while an autopsy is scheduled for Monday.  

They said a woman was called at around 6am by Emmy who begged her to open the door to Matt’s apartment. 

The witness allegedly told police: ‘I saw the victim lying on the floor in front of the refrigerator… I saw Emmy with a neighbour in front of the door, asking me to open the door. 

Marr Harper, 48, was allegedly attacked by his partner Emmy Pakpahan, believed to be in her 40s, inside his home in Bali, Indonesia (pictured together)

Marr Harper, 48, was allegedly attacked by his partner Emmy Pakpahan, believed to be in her 40s, inside his home in Bali, Indonesia (pictured together)

‘I tried to take a closer look at the victim. I saw his feet move and him struggling to breathe.’ 

She added: ‘I saw a bloody knife to his left, next to his left hand. I took the knife and put it on the table.’

She said Emmy pressed on his chest until an ambulance arrived.  

He was rushed to Udayana hospital in Jimbaran but did not survive his injuries.   

The expat, from Gloucester, worked for luxury hotel firm Karma and had been seeing Pakpahan since last July, according to friends. He regularly posted about his ‘dream’ life on social media. 

Emmy – who has US citizenship from a previous marriage – claimed Mr Harper locked himself behind a door and took his own life. 

Local police now appear to be accepting her version of events, as Bali’s director of criminal investigation, police chief Kombes Pol Surawan, told The Sun today: ‘I can’t say this is murder yet. So far we suspect that Mr Harper died by suicide.’

Mr Surawan said footage from the villa’s CCTV camera showed Matt and Pakpahan on the property on Thursday morning.

He added: ‘It is reported the victim escorted his girlfriend out of the villa.

‘Mr Harper then entered the villa and went to the bedroom and locked the bedroom door.

Emmy (pictured), an Indonesian woman - who has US citizenship from a previous marriage - told investigators that Mr Harper had taken his own life

Emmy (pictured), an Indonesian woman – who has US citizenship from a previous marriage – told investigators that Mr Harper had taken his own life

Mr Harper is believed to have arrived to Bali in February 2020, where he often uploaded videos showing his 'dream' life on the island (pictured with Emmy)

Mr Harper is believed to have arrived to Bali in February 2020, where he often uploaded videos showing his ‘dream’ life on the island (pictured with Emmy)

‘His girlfriend then came back and peeked into the room and saw that the victim was in a critical condition. She then took the victim to the hospital, but he was not saved.

‘Mr Harper has wounds to his neck and stomach from a sharp weapon.

‘We are still investigating and interviewing a number of witnesses, including Miss Pakpahan.

‘We also have to wait for the autopsy results to confirm the cause of death. No one has been arrested so far.’  

When Mr Harper’s death became public, Pakpahan uploaded a video of herself on social media, thanking friends and family for their ‘support’. 

She says to the camera: ‘Naturally I am sad. And if you guys don’t hear from me, it’s not because I don’t want to answer, I need time to process things.

‘Please don’t believe anything until a statement comes out from the police department.’  

Matt’s ex-girlfriend in Bali, Allin Efashion, told The Sun: ‘I was with him before he got with Emmy. 

‘He was a perfect gentleman, a caring and lovely man. He was the love of my life. I can’t believe he’s gone.

‘He texted me just a few days before he died, saying he hated Emmy because she ruined his life — and he was sorry for leaving me.

‘He was the best father to his two girls and step-daughter and was loved by many friends in the UK and Bali. May he rest in peace.’ 

Mr Harper is believed to have arrived to Bali in February 2020, where he often uploaded videos showing his ‘dream’ life on the island.   

A Foreign & Commonwealth Office spokesman said last night: ‘We are in contact with the Indonesian police regarding the death of a British man in Bali, and are supporting the family at this difficult time.’

source: dailymail.co.uk