Widow of murdered sailor 'didn't feel unsafe' in St Lucia

Police have arrested two more people in connection with the death of a yachtsman who died defending his wife when attackers boarded their boat in St Lucia.

62-year old Roger Pratt, died and his wife Margaret was injured after 3 armed men climbed aboard their yacht moored off the island on Friday.

5 people are now being held in custody over the incident and St Lucia's police force say they may soon be charges.

Police are expected soon to charge three men held after a Briton died defending his wife when attackers boarded their boat in the Caribbean.

Roger Pratt, 62, a retired engineer, died and his wife Margaret was injured after three armed men climbed aboard their yacht moored off the south coast of St Lucia on Friday.

Mrs Pratt, who retired as a management consultant to go on the long-planned around-the-world holiday, celebrated her 60th birthday just days before the incident.

The couple, from Moreton Paddox near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, had planned to set sail for the next stage of their journey the day before the attack, but were prevented from leaving by a bureaucratic hold-up.

Mrs Pratt was badly beaten but her injuries were not life threatening and she is recovering well, having returned to the couple's yacht.

St Lucia police have said officers were called to reports of a robbery on the Pratts' yacht, the Magnetic Attraction, while moored in Vieux Fort on the island's south coast at about midnight.

"Officers received information three armed men had boarded the vessel, and attacked and injured the occupants before they fled," a statement said.

"Within minutes of the robbers fleeing, Margaret went in search of her husband and found him floating in the nearby waters.

"Roger was retrieved and transported to St Jude Hospital via ambulance, along with his wife."

Mr Pratt was pronounced dead on arrival while Mrs Pratt was discharged after treatment.

The couple set off on their global journey from Lowestoft last July, keeping family and friends at home updated on their progress through an online blog.

According to the blog, the couple were preparing to set out on the next stage of their journey from the island's western harbour town of Soufriere on Thursday, but instead sailed farther south to Fort Vieux because of an administration hold-up with port officials.

Authorities on the island said today that three people were detained within 48 hours of the incident and police are expected to lay formal charges against them shortly.

As police in the Caribbean continue to investigate the events that led to the brutal death of British yachtsman Roger Pratt, his widow Margaret's been talking about what happened and how the people of St Lucia helped her in the aftermath of Friday's tragedy.

Click below for Malcolm Robertson's report.

Roger and Margaret Pratt left Suffolk on July 7. They headed to the Caribbean via Spain and Portugal, then after more than three weeks at sea they reached the island of Martinique, where they spent New Year's Eve. They reached St Lucia on January 1st.

Click below to see a map of their voyage.

The widow of a Norfolk sailor who was killed on their yacht in St Lucia has said she didn't feel unsafe until "those final tragic minutes".

Roger Pratt, 62, died trying to protect his wife when armed intruders boarded their yacht on Friday.

Margaret Pratt said: "We've enjoyed our time in St Lucia, we've been here almost two and half weeks.

"We've not felt unsafe in St Lucia until the events of those final tragic minutes, and have had considerable kindness from very many people and that kindness is continuing during the period of the homicide investigations."

Click below to hear a clip from Margaret Pratt.

Police in St Lucia have said the country is safe for tourists, following the death of a Norfolk sailor.

Vernon Francois, the Police Commissioner of St Lucia, said it was a largely safe country and tourists should not be put off visiting.

A round-the-world trip for two sailors has ended in tragedy.

Roger and Margaret Pratt set sail from Suffolk last year. Their voyage came to a devastating end on Friday when 62-year-old Mr Pratt was killed when armed raiders boarded their yacht on the Caribbean island of St Lucia.

His wife - who'd just celebrated her 60th birthday - was injured but has since been released from hospital.

Click below to watch Malcolm Robertson's report.

We are deeply shocked by the tragic events in St Lucia. Roger had been preparing "Magnetic Attraction" for this voyage over several years and as a talented engineer, his attention to detail was second to none.

The boat was prepared immaculately for world wide cruising and he was very safety conscious. They had been planning a world cruise for a long time and in recent years had gained deep sea experience on the south coast and around Europe.

To sail across the Atlantic and explore the Caribbean was Roger's dream.

Margaret retired in the summer and they set off from Lowestoft in July. They sailed across the Atlantic with two other members of the family, arriving in Martinique for Christmas.

Just the two of them sailed on to St Lucia to celebrate the New Year and Margaret's 60th Birthday.

They were both experienced sailors and had sailed dinghies and keel boats since they were children. There is a big sailing community both in the Norfolk and Suffolk area and around the country who have been following the "Blog" describing their adventures and experiences.

The tragic disaster in St Lucia is a shattering end to their dream and we thank everyone for the messages of sympathy and support that we have received.

We also wish to thank the foreign office and their colleagues in St Lucia for giving Margaret support and practical help at this most difficult time."

Roger and Margaret Pratt were long standing members of the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club.

ITV News Anglia understands they were planning to settle in the Norwich area after their round-the-world sailing trip.

The couple had sailed locally for many years and Mrs Pratt came from Norfolk, attending Norwich High School for Girls.

The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht club say the majority of the crew who sailed with the Pratts to St Lucia were members of the yacht.

The yacht had been in the club's marina for over a year as preparations were made for the trip.

That trip was tragically cut short when Roger Pratt was killed on the 18th January. The crew were attacked while the boat was moored in St Lucia.