A time-critical investigation into the death of a British man whose body was found in a ransacked property on the Caribbean island of Grenada has stalled because of diplomatic delays between the two countries. Charity workers supporting the family of Andrew Frederick are demanding immediate government intervention to clear the path for a full investigation to begin almost 10 months after his death, which has been ruled a homicide by a pathologist. The Murdered Abroad charity has called on the foreign affairs select committee to step in after Grenadian police found there was “no basis … that any homicide has occurred” and closed the case.
This was despite a report from an autopsy, done in the week he died, saying Frederick, 47, had suffered “blunt force trauma”, was tortured, including by removal of his toenail, and ruling the death a homicide. Frederick’s body was found on 4 January. Since then, the family say they have been forced to focus on their fight for justice instead of coming to terms with their loss.
Murdered Abroad’s founder, Eve Henderson, said:“We understand there are challenges but [almost 10 months] on, this family is still being met with obfuscation. If a family this determined cannot get the FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] to put their diplomatic powers to good use, what hope is there for the 60 to 80 families bereaved by murder abroad each year? A former Scotland Yard homicide commander who is supporting the family described Grenada’s actions as “incredible”.
I mean, it’s incredible.” After a sustained campaign by the family, British authorities became involved and Frederick’s body was repatriated to the UK in August, where a second autopsy was carried out, during which it was discovered his organs were missing. The family described this discovery as “shocking and devastating”. In a statement, they said: “We were already heartbroken that Andrew’s life was cruelly taken, but nothing could have prepared us for what we would learn afterwards.
For six weeks after his death, Andrew’s body was held under the control of the Grenadian authorities. When he was later examined in the UK, parts of his neck and all of his organs, including his brain, heart, and lungs, were missing. It has added pain upon pain and left us with deep hurt with so many unanswered questions.
Despite our multiple inquiries, no one has told us where they are, what happened to them, or why we were never told. No family should ever have to ask these questions.” Last month a UK coroner asked the Metropolitan police to conduct an investigation. Weeks later a communication from UK authorities, seen by the Guardian, said a British high commissioner had raised Frederick’s case with officials at the highest levels of government in Grenada, and indicated that authorities there had agreed to cooperate with any forthcoming formal request for the UK to assist with the investigation.
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