The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into the death of a British man, Andrew Donald Frederick, 47, who was found dead in his Grenada home on January 4. This development comes after Grenadian authorities initially ruled his passing as accidental, a conclusion disputed by Frederick's family.
The family commissioned an independent forensic pathologist and a private investigator after Frederick's body was repatriated to Britain. The pathologist, approved by the Royal Grenada police, determined that Frederick had been tortured and declared his death a homicide. During a hearing at West London Coroner's Court, senior coroner Lydia Brown confirmed that the Metropolitan Police are now investigating.
A spokesperson for the family stated that they felt compelled to launch their own inquiry due to concerns about the Grenadian police investigation. The family has also expressed criticism towards the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), alleging that the office refused to refer the case to its murder and manslaughter team despite being provided with the independent post-mortem report. The family described this as an institutional failure that has prolonged their grief.
Eve Henderson, co-founder of the charity Murdered Abroad, which is supporting the family, voiced her surprise at the FCDO's stance, given the pathologist's findings. Henderson noted that an average of 60 to 80 homicides of British nationals abroad occur annually.
The FCDO has stated that it is supporting the family and is in contact with local authorities in Grenada.