Charges To Be Laid Against Suspects In Murder Of British Tourist

CASTRIES, St. Lucia CMC – Charges are expected to be laid “shortly” against three suspects in the death of a 62-year-old British tourist who was killed following an attack last weekend on his boat anchored off the south coast of Vieux-Fort, according to a statement issued by the St. Lucia government.

It said that the results of a post mortem on Robert Pratt indicate that he died of asphyxia secondary to blunt force trauma.

The statement said that Pratt’s wife, Margaret, who had also been attacked, was treated and discharged from hospital.

Tourism Minister Lorne Theophilus, in a statement, expressed condolences to the family of the victims while assuring them that St. Lucia remains “relatively safe for nationals and visitors alike”.

He said law enforcement officials were working “speedily” to solve the case.

“To his wife, who also sustained injuries as a result of the attack, we extend our deepest sympathies. Our prayers are with her for a speedy recovery. There is an active investigation underway and as law enforcement leads the charge in an attempt to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice speedily,” he added.

Meanwhile Margaret Pratt said she was concerned at the misinformation in the local and foreign media regarding the incident.

She said contrary to media reports she and her husband were never prohibited from leaving the island because of bureaucracy.

She said they had always intended to dock in Vieux Fort then head to Bequia in the Grenadines.

“We knew when we left Soufriere that the Customs station in Vieux Fort was only manned Monday to Friday.  We understood the regulation to be, if we signed out from Soufriere we could still leave from Vieux Fort as long as we left within three days.

“When we visited the Customs and Excise in Soufriere, the Chief Officer at the time explained that our understanding was not correct and that we needed to go within 24 hours. Because we wanted to go to Vieux Fort, we didn’t sign out.”

She said she and her husband had intended to sign out of St. Lucia on Monday and leave for Bequia the following day.

Mrs. Pratt categorically denied that her husband had been gunned down or stabbed by the assailants, noting that prior to the attack; she and her husband had enjoyed their time on the island.

“We’ve been here almost two and a half weeks. We felt safe in St. Lucia until those final tragic minutes. And (we’ve had) considerable kindness from very many people and that kindness is continuing during the period of the homicide investigation,” she added.