British Man And Wife Hacked To Death In Tobago

A British man and his wife have been murdered at their home on the Caribbean island of Tobago in an attack described by officials as a "terrible crime".

Lawyer Richard Wheeler, 73, was found lying in a pool of blood with "chop wounds" to both arms and the back of the head, according to police.

A gardener found his 67-year-old wife, Grace, dead on the lawn with a cut to her neck on Tuesday morning.

Police believe they were killed during an apparent robbery, although "all avenues are being explored" by officers.

The bedroom and living room at the couple's house in Carnbee had been ransacked, said investigators.

Mr Wheeler had been living in Tobago for 16 years and was a partner specialising in property law at the firm Lex Caribbean.

He was originally from Sheffield, according to the Trinidad Express.

His wife was a local woman who reportedly worked as an estate agent.

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."

Diane Hadad, chairman of the Tobago Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce, said Mr Wheeler was a "gentleman" and called the murder a "tragedy".

Ms Hadad, described the couple as "friendly, always smiling, always laughing".

She added: "They led a simple life, a friendly life. They were not people who caused trouble."

People have been expressing their condolences to the son's couple, Geoff Wheeler, on Facebook.

One person wrote: "No words are remotely sufficient to express the sadness. You and the kids are in my thoughts.

"May you have the strength to see this through and beyond. I am so sorry. xxx"

Another post said: "There are no words Geoff. I am so sorry. Sending love and light to the entire family."

There have been a number of violent attacks in the region over recent years.

Last year German couple Hubertus Keil, 74, and wife Brigid, 71, were killed in an attack on the island.

In 2009, Britons Murium and Peter Green, from Reading, were seriously injured in a machete attack .

A Swedish couple also died in a similar attack in 2008.

Ms Hadad has called on authorities in Tobago to act to prevent further attacks.

"As a community we must take care of each other, we must respect human life. We are hoping the perpetrators are brought to justice," she said.