Family Demands UK Action as Probe Into Briton's Death in Grenada Stalls

An investigation into the death of a British man in Grenada has stalled because of diplomatic delays between the two countries, and campaigners are now calling for immediate UK government intervention.

Andrew Frederick, 47, was found dead on 4 January in a ransacked property on the Caribbean island. Almost 10 months later, charity workers supporting his family say a full investigation has still not begun. The Murdered Abroad charity has asked the foreign affairs select committee to step in.

Grenadian police closed the case after finding there was "no basis" to conclude that a homicide had occurred. That conclusion sits uneasily with an autopsy carried out in the week of his death. The report said Frederick had suffered blunt force trauma and was tortured, including by the removal of a toenail, and the pathologist ruled the death a homicide.

After a sustained campaign by the family, British authorities became involved and Frederick's body was returned to the UK in August. A second autopsy found that parts of his neck and all of his organs, including the brain, heart and lungs, were missing. The family called the discovery "shocking and devastating". They said his body had been under the control of Grenadian authorities for six weeks after his death, and that no one has told them where the organs are, what happened to them, or why they were not informed.

Last month a UK coroner asked the Metropolitan police to carry out an investigation. Weeks later, a communication from UK authorities seen by the Guardian said a British high commissioner had raised the case with officials at the highest levels of the Grenadian government. It indicated that Grenada had agreed to cooperate with any formal UK request for assistance.

That formal request was sent weeks ago, the family say, but it remains unsigned. They are waiting for Grenada "to honour their verbal commitment" and approve it. In their statement they appealed directly to Grenada's prime minister, who is also the minister of national security, to sign without further delay.

Eve Henderson, founder of Murdered Abroad, said the family was still being met with obfuscation. "If a family this determined cannot get the FCDO to put their diplomatic powers to good use, what hope is there for the 60 to 80 families bereaved by murder abroad each year?" she asked. She said a minister must urgently examine how consular services treat such families, or the select committee must intervene.

David Johnston, a former Scotland Yard homicide commander supporting the family, called the Grenadian police position "incredible", noting that the pathologist categorically stated this was a homicide and that Frederick was tortured before he was killed. He said the delays could damage the inquiry, pointing to the "golden hours", the first 24 hours after a homicide is discovered, when evidence can be lost if a scene is not properly managed. In his view, police failed to identify and preserve the crime scene properly. He added that cooperation between British and Grenadian police could help "bring some stability" to the investigation.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said the government is supporting the family and is in contact with local authorities. The Guardian approached the Royal Grenada Police Force for comment but had received no reply.