Parents of hotelier ‘assassinated’ in St Lucia vow to fight for justice
THE family of a millionaire British hotelier murdered in a “professional hit” in St Lucia today vowed to fight on for justice after a coroner ruled he was unlawfully killed.
Oliver Gobat’s burned body was found in the passenger seat of his torched Range Rover Evoque on April 25 last year. He had been shot twice in the head before the 4x4 was set alight.
Mr Gobat, 38, ran a resort on the Caribbean island with his parents and two brothers. Guests had included Kelly Brook and Amy Winehouse.
A local investigation has failed to charge anyone and British police have “stalled” over getting involved because the Commonwealth country still has the death penalty for murder. However, Mr Gobat’s family said Surrey Police are now poised to lead a fresh inquiry.
At the time of his death the hotelier, from Esher in Surrey, was helping to organise the £5.4 million takeover of The Landings, a St Lucian beach resort that had become insolvent.
Woking coroner’s court heard that a rival bidder had organised a smear campaign against Mr Gobat. He had also received death threats, which he concealed from his family.
The Gobats were well-known on the island for the success of Cap Maison, a five - star resort and spa. After the coroner recorded a verdict of unlawful killing, Adam Gobat, 41, the resort’s chief executive, told the Standard the family “would never
give up” on finding his brother’s killers. He said: “We won’t stop until there’s justice. We have been told by experts it’s a very solvable crime.
“Surrey Police have told me they are willing to get involved but they are waiting to be contacted by the police in St Lucia. There have been phone calls scheduled and nothing has happened. Now is the time for action.”
At the inquest Mr Gobat’s mother Helen, 68, criticised the police investigation in St Lucia, saying basic errors had been made from the outset.
The island’s prime minister has now formally ruled out capital punishment as a penalty in the case.
Mr Gobat was born in St Lucia but had dual nationality. He represented Surrey juniors at c r icket and had beaten cancer after being diagnosed at the age of 13.