Christine Robinson killed at South African game lodge

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-28624475

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A British woman is believed to have been robbed and stabbed to death at a game lodge she owned in South Africa.

Christine Robinson's body was found in Thabazimbi, 150 miles (240km) north of Johannesburg. A family spokesman said money she had to pay staff was missing.

The 59-year-old former teacher, who was originally from Liverpool, had been living in the country for a decade.

Her niece Lehanne Sergison, 43, from Bickley, Kent, said family and friends were "heartbroken".

Ms Sergison said she had read reports online that her aunt had been beaten and stabbed but that this had not been confirmed by police.

"We know very little. She was murdered on Wednesday," she said.

"We haven't had much joy out of the police in South Africa, so we don't really know anything more than that.

"The Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday morning that there was a suspect but there was a suspicion that he'd fled to Zimbabwe."

'Kind-hearted'

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said officials were "notified of the death of a British national on July 30 in South Africa".

"We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time."

Ms Sergison said her aunt was a "very kind, humble woman".

"It's hard to express how wonderful she is," she said.

"[She was] warm, cheerful, compassionate, kind-hearted and very popular human being, who enriched the lives of everyone she met."

She said Mrs Robinson, whose husband Robbie died from cancer in 2012, had been "adventurous and travelled the world teaching English to foreign children in international schools."

She added: "They would have adored her as all her family and friends did."