Three hacked to death in Trinidad

Bandits tied up and then hacked to death a former BBC producer, her mother and her British brother-in-law on the Caribbean island of Trinidad.

The victims were identified as Lynette Pearson, 51, her mother Maggie Lee, 81, who were staying with her brother-in-law John Cropper, 59, at his home outside the capital, Port of Spain.

Mrs Lee had been living in Toronto, Canada, and Ms Pearson had been living in Port-Vendres, France, but both were Trinidadian. Mr Cropper, a Briton, lived in Trinidad.

Mrs Lee was holiday in Trinidad for two months with her daughter, who was working on the biography of Ulric Cross, a Trinidadian appeals court judge who had flown fighters for the RAF during the Second World War.

Mr Cropper headed the Cropper Foundation, which sponsors workshops for young creative writers in Trinidad. His wife works as an environmental consultant for the United Nations and was not in Trinidad at the time of the murders.

A maid found the three bodies yesterday morning but police believe the murders could have occurred on Wednesday, the maid’s day off.

The three were found with their arms bound behind their backs, police said, adding that Cropper’s vehicle, some jewellery and other household valuables were missing.

The three were last seen by friends on Tuesday night