TRIBUNE STAFF REPORTER

TWO years after an American tourist was allegedly attacked inside Atlantis’ Aura nightclub and left with graphic injuries, Bahamian police claim the case is still under investigation with no charges filed.

Charles Sinn, 37, claims he was nearly killed in what he described as a group assault that left him with a traumatic brain injury and a foot so mutilated that bones pierced through the skin. He has since launched a website, justiceforcharles.com, where he shares video clips, photos, and legal documents, hoping to pressure authorities into taking action.

“I was almost murdered by an entire family on the middle of a nightclub, and The Bahamas police just let them go,” he told The Tribune last month.

Police initially detained three people, but Mr Sinn says they were released without charge. He identified them twice in mugshot lineups, he said, but the case went cold. Despite multiple eyewitnesses and video evidence, he claims no one from the RBPF followed up.

Asked this week for an update, Assistant Commissioner of Police Anton Rahming said police are preparing to contact Mr Sinn and his attorneys.

“We’re in the process of having some communication with them, so that they can be abreast of what’s taking place at this time,” he said. He confirmed that the accused are not currently in The Bahamas.

Mr Sinn’s attempt to seek justice in a Florida court earlier this year was also unsuccessful. A civil case filed there against Michael Ciprianni, his son Francesco, and his wife Vanessa was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds. A judge ruled it should be tried in The Bahamas.

Court documents claim a verbal altercation between Mr Sinn and Michael Ciprianni escalated into a physical fight captured on video where Mr Ciprianni had to be restrained by security. The filing alleges the other two Cipriannis joined in moments later. Mr Sinn is then seen with a “severely mangled” foot and claims a knife was used to nearly sever it.

The Cipriannis admitted to being at the club that night. Michael denied cutting anyone’s foot and claimed he had witnesses to back his account. Francesco also denied any involvement. Vanessa acknowledged seeing a scuffle but said she didn’t witness anyone being injured.

In his court testimony, Mr Sinn said a fight broke out on the dance floor. He saw Michael Ciprianni being held by security, pointed him out, and told staff to remove them. He says he was then shoved by Francesco and attacked again by both men. He claims he was stabbed in the hand, then the same knife was used to slash his ankle.

A witness who recorded the fight backed Mr Sinn’s version in an affidavit, describing the injuries as “severe” and noting the foot was visibly dislocated and nearly severed.

The court acknowledged the video footage could support Mr Sinn’s claim, but said the obstructed view and the defendants’ denial meant the matter needed to be tried where the alleged attack occurred: in The Bahamas.