The local press has featured little information related to the death of Robert Hathaway since his naked body was discovered at his Grand Riviere home almost a month ago. About a fortnight ago, a Saint Lucian online publication revealed in a headline that the “Saint Lucia Police Want To Speak To ‘Bisexual Roommates’ Of Murdered Briton Robert Hathaway”. It turned out the story had been lifted from the UK’s Daily Telegraph. None of the details the Telegraph revealed had allegedly been supplied by local police sources.
The Telegraph was just one of the UK publications that featured sensitive information on the Hathaway case. The Times also ran a story that featured pictures and information allegedly supplied by Mr. Hathaway’s “estranged wife”. Although she was reportedly in Martinique at the time of Hathaway’s death, she was able to supply The Times with gruesome details unavailable to local reporters.
Reported the UK Times: “It’s believed the two young women with whom he [Hathaway] had been cohabitating found his body and ran from the home screaming and hysterical. But between then and the time police arrived, something strange happened: someone went into the home and took a picture of Mr Hathaway’s corpse. It was sent to Ms James, who described its contents to The Times. It showed his naked body lying on blood-soaked sheets, a pillow over his face, a pair of boxer shorts lying across one leg.” The publication described Saint Lucia as a dream escape but the island paradise having a violent secret.
The Daily Telegraph revealed its source as a police spokesman who said: “Bob Hathaway had many female friends and we are looking at the possibility that one of their boyfriends could have killed him and set things up. The crime scene looks a fair bit staged from what has been seen and the pillow was placed on his face. We are trying to ascertain how it got there.”
When this reporter questioned Assistant Police Commissioner Wayne Charlery about the evident leaks to overseas media personnel while local reporters were ignored, he said: “I would love to know who this person is.” When I suggested the leaks could potentially damage a prosecutor’s chances of bringing Bob Hathaway’s killer(s) to justice, Charlery replied: “No comment on speculative inquiries.” Meanwhile suspicious minds here continue to believe that overseas publications may be paying police sources for information not available to local news outlets. Hopefully, such suspicions will soon be addressed by the police commissioner!–
