Mystery of high-flying lawyer who vanished on walk in paradise...
A RESPECTED barrister is missing presumed dead after he failed to return from a jungle hike across a tropical island.
An extensive three-week police search found no trace of Peter Clement. It has now been called off.
The former head of chambers, 57, was on holiday after retiring from a more than 30-year career as a criminal barrister when he vanished.
He had set off alone on the “dangerous” and “largely unmarked” Grand Barbe trail on Silhouette Island, in the Seychelles, on May 15.
He was last seen on the route – which takes experienced walkers several hours to complete – from one side of the 20-square kilometre island to the other via steep climbs.
The mountainous island has a population of just 200 and there are now calls for walkers to be handed GPS trackers and warned not to tackle the trail alone.
It is thought Mr Clement may have run into difficulties after bad weather set in.
A police, coastguard and army search operation involving helicopters, boats, drones and volunteers from the Labriz Hilton hotel where he was staying lasted for three weeks.
Four days into the operation the local Le Seychellois newspaper reported that bad weather meant it was unlikely he would be found alive.
It reported: “According to the police,
all his personal belongings and travel documents have been found intact in his hotel room. In an unusual move, the police have admitted the persisting bad weather conditions we are experiencing the last few days, is diminishing their hope of finding the British man alive.”
Several former colleagues and friends followed the search as it was updated by police on Facebook, and prayed he would be found, saying he was a “wonderful
man”. But Seychelles police called off the search on June 6. Although no body was found, former colleagues and relatives have accepted the worst for the lawyer – previously a captain in Army Legal Services who served in Northern Ireland.
Staff at Two Harcourt Buildings, in Temple, London, where he worked, announced the news on their website.
A statement said: “It is with deep shock and sadness that we must announce the loss of our dear friend, colleague and former head of chambers Peter Clement. He has recently retired after an illustrious career at the criminal bar, practising from 2 Harcourt Buildings for over 30 years.
“He was much loved and respected by everyone in chambers.”
Matthew Scott, a barrister at Pump Court Chambers, said: “A fine advocate and a man it was impossible not to like. He was a really nice guy, everyone liked him.
“Apparently the area he was walking in consists of very thick jungle which must make any searches very difficult.”
Marzocchi Anna posted on Facebook: “I know this trail is very dangerous in that kind of weather.”
And Felix Maranga added: “Guests taking the trail should be given rechargeable waterproof GPS trackers that ping your exact location periodically.”
On the Tripadvisor website, posters who have completed the arduous trek warned of difficulties.
One said: “Someone did it alone recently and was lost for two days.”
Another advised: “Take a guide from the hotel and you will thank me. The path to get there is not well marked, the part through the forest can be very slippery.”
Another said that the trail consists of “unmarked slippery paths in the thick tropical rainforest”.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of a British man missing in the Seychelles and are in contact with the local authorities.”