A British man has been arrested after his wife died from head injuries and stab wounds at their upmarket home on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia.
The elderly man, thought to be James Mitchell and believed to be in his late 70s, is now in custody after Anna Mitchell, in her 60s, was found dead yesterday.
Her death has shocked the community on the idyllic island, which is home to fewer than 200,000 people.
The elderly man, thought to be James Mitchell and believed to be in his late 70s, is now in custody after Anna Mitchell (pictured), in her 60s, was found dead yesterday
According to St Lucia News Online, Anna had her head ‘bashed in’ and a murder probe has now been opened.
There were reports of a domestic dispute at the couple’s home.
Her death has been recorded as the 16th homicide so far this year on the island.
Anna loved Saint Lucia and was preparing to host a charity event at her home next month when she died, Ann-Marie Joseph, a close friend of the deceased told the St Lucia Times.
Joseph, a former magistrate on the island, described the deceased as someone who was ‘extremely generous’ with her time.
She disclosed that the death has sent shock waves through the Cap Estate community where Mitchell lived and among charitable organisations on the Island.
According to Joseph, the deceased ran a swim programme from her home where she lived with her husband, offering her pool to assist with charitable ventures.
She noted that Anna was youthful and she ate well and was a yoga enthusiast.
Her death has shocked the community on the idyllic island (pictured), which is home to fewer than 200,000 people
A police release Wednesday said that officers attached to the Gros Islet Police Station were summoned to a residence at Cap Estate, about 4.10 pm on Tuesday. Pictured: St Lucia
‘She did not have very much. Although she lived in Cap Estate in a beautiful house she did not have very much. But whatever she had, she was willing to share,’ she told the St Lucia Times.
Joseph estimated that Mitchell, a retired realtor, must have been living in Saint Lucia for at least twenty years.
‘She came out here because she loved Saint Lucia. She came here on a visit – she landed here via Dominica and she fell in love with the island,’ she explained.
Anna had two children, both of whom are in the UK, it was revealed.
Joseph told the St Lucia Times that Anna also loved children.
‘We used to have a baby swim programme here and she adopted all the children as her own grandchildren. She was very warm. I remember her for her warmth, her sense of fun and her sense of humour.’
A police release Wednesday said that officers attached to the Gros Islet Police Station were summoned to a residence at Cap Estate, about 4.10 pm on Tuesday.
‘On arrival, the body of Anna Mitchell was discovered along her driveway and appeared to be lifeless,’ the release stated.
It said medical assistance was sought and she was pronounced dead on the scene by a medical practitioner.
It was reported that there had been a domestic dispute at the home.