St Lucia: Four Charged With Roger Pratt's Murder

Four men have been charged with murdering a British yachtsman who died while trying to defend his wife from a group of suspected robbers in St Lucia.

Roger Pratt, 62, a retired engineer from Norfolk, died after being beaten by the attackers on January 17.

The four suspects, all from St Lucia, covered their faces as they entered the courtroom on the Caribbean island on Friday.

They were charged with murder and robbery offences, and will appear in court again on February 4.

Mr Pratt and his wife Margaret, from Moreton Paddox, near Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, had docked their boat Magnetic Attraction in a harbour on the island.

Mr and Mrs Pratt were on a round-the-world sailing trip

They had hoped to leave earlier, but were delayed due to a bureaucratic hold-up.

Mr Pratt was forced to fend off attackers who boarded their boat and demanded cash and other items, police said.

Mrs Pratt found her husband floating in the water. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

A post-mortem examination revealed he died from drowning after suffering a blow to the head.

Mrs Pratt, who retired as a management consultant to go on the long-planned, round-the-world sailing trip, was also attacked and had to be treated for her injuries.

The couple's boat Magnetic Attraction

The murder has raised concerns on the island, where tourism accounts for about two-thirds of the economy.

Earlier in the week, the island's tourism minister said: "I wish to assure you that as a destination St Lucia remains relatively safe for nationals and visitors alike.

"We are fully committed to seeing this investigation through to a final conclusion."

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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