Upset at rape claims by sister of dead man

The family of a British restaurateur fatally shot by a hunter while cycling in the French Alps have defended him against rape claims.

Marc Sutton, 34, originally from Caerphilly, was cycling near Morzine when he was struck by what prosecutors believe was a stray bullet in an accident.

After tributes to him emerged, his sister, Katie Toghill, told the Sun newspaper he repeatedly raped, threatened and physically abused her as a child.

Yesterday other family members defended Mr Sutton, who ran Wild Beets Kitchen in Les Gets with girlfriend Jo Watts, 35.

Ms Watts said: “Of course I’m shattered by his death, his life taken so violently by a hunter while he innocently rode his bike on a popular track.

“To add to all that I’m devastated people have chosen now to make these allegations when Marc is not here to defend himself.”

A former partner of Mr Sutton’s described him as a “psycho” and he was reportedly jailed for six months for punching a girlfriend.

Mother-of-one Ms Toghill, 32, who the Sun said had waived her anonymity as a sexual assault accuser, said he raped her about 100 times.

“He threatened that if I told anyone he would kill me, everyone would hate me, and no one would believe me,” she said.

Their mother, Katrina, reportedly said he did not deny the claims when Ms Toghill shared them later in life.

Yesterday Mr Sutton’s father, John, blamed a “family feud”, adding: “I’m devastated they would try to blacken his name now that he’s dead.”

French prosecutors said Marc Sutton was cycling around 6pm on Saturday and passed some hunters.

Reports said a 22-yearold man was being investigated on suspicion of aggravated manslaughter.