ST. JOHN'S, Antigua – Police in Antigua on Saturday charged a person with homicide for stabbing a controversial lawmaker to dying at his seaside residence this week.
Police on the tiny Caribbean island filed prices in opposition to 26-year-old Alexta Francis, two days after the panorama gardener was arrested and questioned over the homicide of Asot Michael. Francis was scheduled to seem in court docket for the primary time on Monday.
Authorities mentioned Francis doesn’t but have a lawyer and it was not instantly clear the place he was being held Saturday.
In a press release, Police Commissioner Atlee Rodney praised investigators “for his or her diligence and professionalism in dealing with the matter.” He later informed the Related Press that police didn’t plan to disclose the motive however would as an alternative permit it to be revealed in court docket.
Michael, 54, was an impartial MP and a rich businessman who rose via the ranks of ruling Antigua & Barbuda Labor Social gathering to function minister. Though he was often called a philanthropist in his constituency, he was additionally barred from working for the get together checklist following numerous controversies, together with a global bribery scandal for which he has denied wrongdoing.
He efficiently ran as an impartial within the 2023 election and retained his seat in Parliament.
Michael was discovered useless in his residence on the west coast of Antigua on Tuesday when a housekeeper got here to work and found his physique with a number of stab wounds.
It was the primary time that such against the law was dedicated in opposition to a parliamentarian within the island nation.
On Thursday, the federal government introduced it will ask London's Metropolitan Police to assist examine the high-profile homicide. As a former British colony, the nation nonetheless has shut ties with Britain and has previously requested the London police for assist in high-profile circumstances.
Whereas their help will now not be required for Michael's case, Rodney mentioned they plan to make use of their experience on different unsolved circumstances.