ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Police Commissioner Atlee Patrick Rodney has hinted at the possibility of foreign investigators assisting in the investigation into the death of the independent legislator, Asot Michael, whose body was found in a pool of blood by his maid at his Dry Hill Residence on the outskirts of the capital on Tuesday morning.
Rodney told a news conference that Michael, 54, who served as a minister in previous administrations of the Gaston Browne administration, had at least one major stab wound to the chest but that the investigations were in the early stages to determine the cause of death.
“It is one of those sad occasions we have to address as investigators…we had the call early this morning that he was found unresponsive, we responded quickly, and as the doctor has just confirmed he has passed away,” Rodney told reporters near the scene of the murder. Watch video
“There are some injuries on the body, which now opens up a homicide investigation as the circumstances that led to the injuries. We do not know what happened, but we will use all the resources we have locally, regionally, and internationally.
“I will be speaking with my regional partners, I will be speaking with my international partners, and whatever resources we need, we will use everything to address such a serious crime. It is a heinous crime when you see that type of injury and somebody lying in that condition,” the top cop told reporters.
Rodney appealed to eyewitnesses and public members to come forward and assist in the investigation, urging them to “respect the privacy of the family, especially with the type of information they are going to share.”
‘Simultaneously, we are asking anyone with information …to step forward. This is a national event in which everybody has a part to play, and we look forward to every citizen playing their part in solving this matter”.
Rodney said Michael has been a legislator and former government minister who “has assisted many persons in Antigua and beyond.”
He said he has spoken to the family, and the investigators have also spoken to the “traumatized” maid who found the body.
He said it was too early to indicate whether there had been a forced entry into the house.
‘The investigators are on the scene … other operational officers support them, and at this stage, we will just gather as much information,” he said, noting that later on Tuesday, the police will have a case conference to determine what evidence they would have collected.
Michael, the Member of Parliament for St Peter, contested the last general election on January 18, 2023, as an independent candidate after he fell out with the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP).
He began his political career 1995 as the Special Administrative Assistant to then-Prime Minister Lester Bird and was eventually appointed Bird’s Chief of Staff in 1997. In 199, he was appointed a government senator and Minister of State in the office of the Prime Minister, overseeing responsibilities for Public Works, Communications, Insurance, Energy, and St. John’s Development Corporation.
He continued in that role until 2001, when he became a full minister responsible for these portfolios, and continued until 2003. He was also appointed Junior Minister of Finance until 2003.
He was first elected to the House of Representatives for the constituency of Saint Peter in 2004, and on 23 October 2017, he was detained at Heathrow Airport while in transit to a conference in France, being accused of having requested bribes from a British investor in 2016
While being interviewed by U.K. authorities, Prime Minister Browne removed him as Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy despite Michael denying any wrongdoing.
In 2018, British investor Peter Virdee accused Michael of involvement in a bribery scheme. Michael denied soliciting bribes and said the original detention was for an interview with police.
Download video – Police Commissioner Atlee Patrick Rodney
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