Independent legislator found dead at home in Antigua

ST JOHN'S, Antigua, CMC – Police Commissioner Atlee Patrick Rodney has hinted at the possibility of foreign investigators assisting in the investigation into the death of independent legislator,  Asot Michael, whose body was found in a pool of blood by his maid at his home on Tuesday morning.

Rodney told a news conference that Michael, 54, who served as a minister in previous administrations of the Gaston Browne administration, had at least one major stab wound to the chest, but that the investigations were in the early stages to determine the cause of death.

“It is one of those sad occasions we have to address as investigators…we had the call early this morning that he was found unresponsive, we responded quickly and as the doctor has just confirmed he has passed away,” Rodney told reporters near the scene of the murder. 

“There are some injuries on the body which now opens up a homicide investigation as the circumstances that led to the injuries, we do not know what happened, but we are going to use all the resources that we have locally, regionally and internationally.

“I will be speaking with my regional partners, I will be speaking with my international partners and whatever resources we need we will use everything to address such a serious crime. It is a heinous crime when you see that type of injury and somebody lying in that condition,” the top cop told reporters.

Rodney appealed to eyewitnesses and members of the public to come forward and assist in the investigation, urging them also to “respect the privacy of the family especially with the type of information they share.

Michael, the Member of Parliament for St Peter, had contested the last general election on January 18, 2023 as an independent candidate after he fell out with the ruling the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP).

He was first elected to the House of Representatives for the constituency of Saint Peter in 2004 and on October 23, 2017, he was detained at Heathrow Airport while in transit to a conference in France, being accused of having requested bribes from a British investor in 2016

While being interviewed by UK authorities, Prime Minister Browne removed him as Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy despite Michael denying any wrongdoing.

In 2018, Michael was accused by British investor Peter Virdee of Michael's involvement in a bribery scheme. Michael denied soliciting bribes and said the original detention was for the purpose of an interview with police.

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