Elaine McGowan, a 65-year-old British pub landlady, was fatally shot on July 5 in Trinidad and Tobago while on holiday with her husband. The incident occurred in the Trincity area, where Mrs. McGowan was standing in the yard of a property with her husband when an assailant opened fire.
Video footage shared by a local crime reporter shows a silver Nissan Tiida stopping near the property. A person emerges from the vehicle, approaches the home, and fires three shots in quick succession before running back to the car. The vehicle then drives away from the scene.
Trinidad and Tobago Police confirmed they have received the footage and that it is part of their ongoing investigation. Mrs. McGowan was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Centre in Champ Fleurs but was pronounced dead upon arrival. Her sister, Joanne Butcher, stated that Mrs. McGowan was at her godfather's house at the time of the attack. Mrs. McGowan was visiting the Caribbean island to conduct business at her father's farm, Cocal Retreat, in Manzanilla.
Mrs. McGowan, who ran The Castle Hotel in Hythe, Kent, from 2019 until last summer, is survived by her husband, Ian, and a large family and circle of friends. Tributes have been paid by former colleagues, with Hemang Patel describing her as a "brilliant person" and expressing shock at her death.
Ms Butcher highlighted the strong family values that Mrs. McGowan, along with herself and her cousins, were raised with by their immigrant parents from Trinidad and Tobago.
No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, and the motive remains unknown. Ms Butcher has appealed for anyone with information to contact the detectives in Trinidad. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stated they are supporting the family of the British woman and are in communication with local authorities.
