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St Lucia: Warwickshire man Roger Pratt murdered | St Lucia: Warwickshire man Roger Pratt murdered |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A British man has been murdered on the Caribbean island of St Lucia as he tried to defend his wife from attackers. | A British man has been murdered on the Caribbean island of St Lucia as he tried to defend his wife from attackers. |
Roger Pratt, 62, was killed on board the couple's yacht in the town of Vieux Fort on Friday night, police said. | |
His wife, Margaret, was treated for injuries sustained in the attack, which took place while the Warwickshire couple were on a round-the-world trip. | His wife, Margaret, was treated for injuries sustained in the attack, which took place while the Warwickshire couple were on a round-the-world trip. |
Police said three men were in custody, but no arrests had been made. | Police said three men were in custody, but no arrests had been made. |
Mrs Pratt had been released from hospital and was helping detectives investigating the robbery, they said. | Mrs Pratt had been released from hospital and was helping detectives investigating the robbery, they said. |
The UK Foreign Office said it was aware of the death of a British national on the island and was providing consular assistance to the family. | |
The cause of Mr Pratt's death has not been established, but police said there was no evidence he had been shot. A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Monday. | |
A police spokesman said: "Nobody has been arrested yet but there are some guys in custody. The investigators are very busy looking at what happened." | A police spokesman said: "Nobody has been arrested yet but there are some guys in custody. The investigators are very busy looking at what happened." |
'Found floating' | 'Found floating' |
He said that officers heard that three armed men had boarded the boat, named the Magnetic Attraction, and attacked the couple before fleeing. | |
"Margaret went in search of her husband and found him floating in the nearby waters. | "Margaret went in search of her husband and found him floating in the nearby waters. |
"Roger was retrieved and transported to St Jude Hospital via ambulance along with his wife. | "Roger was retrieved and transported to St Jude Hospital via ambulance along with his wife. |
"He was pronounced dead on arrival while Margaret was treated and discharged." | "He was pronounced dead on arrival while Margaret was treated and discharged." |
The couple had been on their voyage since June, when they left Lowestoft, Suffolk, and headed for the Algarve before navigating their way to the Caribbean. | |
They had been celebrating Mrs Pratt's 60th birthday when the attack took place. | They had been celebrating Mrs Pratt's 60th birthday when the attack took place. |
While on their trip, the couple kept a blog. | While on their trip, the couple kept a blog. |
Writing hours before the attack, Mrs Pratt said they had planned to leave the island some time before, but immigration checks had been delayed. | Writing hours before the attack, Mrs Pratt said they had planned to leave the island some time before, but immigration checks had been delayed. |
On 10 January Mrs Pratt wrote about her birthday. | On 10 January Mrs Pratt wrote about her birthday. |
"Yesterday was a very special day. I had a blissful time!" | "Yesterday was a very special day. I had a blissful time!" |
Later she wrote that the couple had enjoyed an evening with their friends. | Later she wrote that the couple had enjoyed an evening with their friends. |
"The evening went with a swing, aided by a local rum punch with fruit juice that definitely packed a punch! | "The evening went with a swing, aided by a local rum punch with fruit juice that definitely packed a punch! |
"Altogether a delightful and memorable day. Happiness is..." | "Altogether a delightful and memorable day. Happiness is..." |
'Active investigation' | 'Active investigation' |
Mrs Pratt has worked as a financial adviser for NHS Northwest and was the chief executive of St Mary's Hospital and Isle of Wight PCT, according to her LinkedIn profile. | Mrs Pratt has worked as a financial adviser for NHS Northwest and was the chief executive of St Mary's Hospital and Isle of Wight PCT, according to her LinkedIn profile. |
Meanwhile, St Lucian tourism minister Lorne Theophilus extended "sincerest condolences" to Mr Pratt's family. | |
"To his wife, who also sustained injuries as a result of the attack on the Vieux Fort coast, we extend our deepest sympathies," he said. | "To his wife, who also sustained injuries as a result of the attack on the Vieux Fort coast, we extend our deepest sympathies," he said. |
"This is an active investigation and law enforcement is leading the charge in an attempt to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice speedily. | "This is an active investigation and law enforcement is leading the charge in an attempt to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice speedily. |
"Law enforcement officials have briefed myself and other senior tourism officials on aspects of the case although I am not at liberty to share some of those details with you at this time." | "Law enforcement officials have briefed myself and other senior tourism officials on aspects of the case although I am not at liberty to share some of those details with you at this time." |
Speaking from her home in Moreton Paddox, near Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, neighbour Lavinia O'Shaughnessy said she was shocked at the news. | |
"They were very sociable, Margaret is a very jovial person. | |
"When we moved here they were very kind to us, they are a nice couple. | |
"I'm very sad, they were some of the nicest people you'd like to meet." | |
Susan Barraclough added: "It's dreadful news for anybody, but it's even worse if you know them. Just dreadful." |