Briton murdered wife on sailing honeymoon, says FBI

A BRITISH engineer has been charged by the FBI with murdering his wife after she disappeared at sea as they cruised around the Caribbean on a belated honeymoon.

Lewis Bennett, 41, who holds dual British and Australian citizenship and is originally from Poole, Dorset, was accused of second-degree murder over the death of Isabella Hellmann, 41, on May 15 last year.

He was charged in a Miami court where, according to local television station WPTV, he was also sentenced to seven months in jail for transporting valuable rare coins.

After his wife’s disappearance Mr Bennett told investigators she was lost at sea when their 37ft catamaran, Surf into Summer, was struck by an unknown object near the Bahamas.

According to the FBI, Mr Bennett said he had gone below deck and left Ms Hellmann above to keep watch.

He described being woken up at 1am by a jolt and the vessel was taking on water. Bennett told investigators he could not find his wife and had to abandon ship on a life raft.

In an affidavit, FBI special agent James Kelley said the bureau now believed Mr Bennett “knowingly and unlawfully killed” Ms Hellmann.

After he was rescued Mr Bennett said of his wife: “She is my soulmate. I thought we were going to be together forever. I understand why they have to investigate and that is fair enough. I have nothing to hide. They have to do what they have to do.”