British lawyer and wife killed on Caribbean island of Tobago

Updated

A British man and his wife have been killed at their home on the Caribbean island of Tobago in an apparent robbery, police said.

Richard Wheeler, 73, a lawyer, had lived on the island for the past 16 years, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said.

The body of his wife Grace, 67, a local woman, was discovered first, by a gardener at their home in the village of Carnbee, on Tuesday morning, TTPS said in a statement.

He went to police, who attended the house and found Mrs Wheeler unresponsive on the lawn, with a cut to the neck.

They then went inside and found Mr Wheeler face down in a pool of blood with "chop wounds" to both arms and the back of the head.

The statement said: "An initial assessment suggests robbery as the possible motive as the bedroom and living room areas were ransacked. However, all avenues are being explored and all leads pursued."

The BBC said that Mr Wheeler was reportedly from Sheffield and worked for firm Lex Caribbean.

The company's website says: "Richard Wheeler is a partner in the Tobago Office. Richard attended the Ratcliffe College and the College of Law, Lancaster Gate, London.

"He was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales in 1973 and he has also been admitted to practice in Hong Kong and Trinidad and Tobago.

"He is a member of the Tobago Chamber of Commerce. Richard specializes in property development and conveyancing."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Following the death of a British national in Tobago on October 20, our staff are travelling to the island to support family members at this difficult time.

"They will also meet senior police officers investigating this terrible crime after our High Commissioner spoke with Trinidad and Tobago's Police Commissioner earlier today."

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