Three held for death of Briton in Caribbean paradise

A British man was killed by robbers who stormed his yacht at midnight on Friday as it lay moored off the port of Vieux Fort, on the Caribbean island of St Lucia. Mr Roger Pratt, 62, is understood to have died as he tried to defend his wife Margaret, 60.

Mrs Pratt found her husband floating in the water near the boat minutes after the robbers fled, says a statement from the St Lucia police force.

Found him in the water

“About midnight on Friday, January 17, 2014, officers attached to the Vieux Fort Police Station responded to a report of robbery on a vessel named ‘Magnetic Attraction’ which was berthed at the Seaport in Vieux Fort,” the report read.

“On arrival, the officers received information that three armed men had boarded the vessel, attacked and injured the occupants before they fled. At the time of the incident, the vessel was occupied by 60-year-old Margaret Pratt and her 62-year-old husband, Roger Pratt.”

“Within minutes of the robbers fleeing, 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. He was pronounced dead on arrival while Margaret was treated and discharged,” St Lucia Police say.

Three men are currently in police custody in relation to the death. A report that one of the robbers was killed in a shoot-out is incorrect, according to the police. It is unclear whether the men had guns or not.

Within minutes of the robbers fleeing, Margaret went in search of her husband and found him floating in the nearby waters St Lucia Police

Dream holiday

The couple from the village of Moreton Morrell in Warwickshire had set off on a year-long round the world trip that included a stay in the Carribean island of St Lucia where Mrs Pratt celebrated her 60th birthday.

Mrs Pratt had worked in financial consulting for the NHS before setting off on a year-long holiday with her husband Roger in June. She wrote on her Linked in page:

“Off travelling! The plan is to be in the Caribbean for my 60th birthday in January 2014… all a bit of a leap into the unknown. Please stay in touch – I plan to be an assiduous correspondent!”

St Lucian tourism minister Lorne Theophilus said: “It is with much regret that I and other industry partners have learnt of the unfortunate incident which has resulted in the loss of life of a visitor to our shores.

“At this time we extend our sincerest condolences to the family of British national Roger Pratt. To his wife, who also sustained injuries as a result of the attack off the Vieux Fort coast, we extend our deepest sympathies. Our prayers are with her for a speedy recovery.

“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.”

Crime ‘happens all over’

It has been suggested that the area around Vieux Fort, where the couple were diverted yesterday afternoon by a customs delay, is less safe than the more touristy north. It hosts the airport, and also a large industrial area.

A police officer in Vieux Fort, told Channel 4 News that he considered St Lucia to be equally safe all over but said “other people had different views.”

“Crime happens all over, it happens in England, Afghanistan, it happens in Somalia,” he said, “you can’t pinpoint St Lucia.”

A British Foreign Office spokeswoman also confirmed the death, without giving any details about the victims or circumstances.

The spokeswoman said the foreign office was “providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time.”