Antigua police have charged a man with murder after he stabbed a politician to death

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (AP) — Antigua police charged a man with murder Saturday death by stabbing At a controversial MP’s beach house this week.

Police on the small Caribbean island charged Alexta Francis, 26, two days after the landscape architect was arrested and questioned about the murder of Asot Michael. Francis was to make his first court appearance on Monday.

It was not immediately clear where Francis was being held on Saturday or whether he had legal representation.

In a statement, Police Commissioner Atlee Rodney praised investigators “for the diligence and professionalism with which they handled the matter.” He later told The Associated Press that police did not plan to release a motive for the incident, but would instead allow it to be disclosed in court.

Michael, 54, was a wealthy businessman who rose to serve as an independent member of parliament and minister in the ruling Antigua & Barbuda Labor Party. Although he was known as a philanthropist among his own voters, he was also barred from running for the party’s nomination following several controversies, including the international bribery scandal in which he denied wrongdoing.

He successfully ran as an independent in the 2023 elections to retain his seat in parliament.

Michael was found dead at his home on Antigua’s west coast on Tuesday when a cleaner reported leaving for work and noticed multiple stab wounds on his body.

This is the first time such a crime has been committed against a member of parliament in the twin island state.

On Thursday the government announced it would seek help from London’s Metropolitan Police to investigate the high-profile murder. The country, a former British colony, still has strong ties to Britain and has sought help from London police in high-profile cases in the past.

Although their help will no longer be needed for Michael’s case, Rodney said they plan to use their expertise on other unsolved cases.