The grieving family of Andrew Frederick, 47, whose body was discovered on 4 January, are calling for an urgent review of UK policies regarding support for families of Britons killed abroad.

Independent Investigation Commissioned

A family spokesperson stated they had to launch their own public appeals for information and commission an independent forensic pathologist and private investigator due to concerns about the Grenada police investigation.

The pathologist, approved by the Royal Grenada police force (RGPF), found that Frederick had been tortured and concluded that his death was a homicide; the family then referred the case to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

FCDO Refused to Refer Case

Despite being provided with a postmortem report establishing that Frederick had been tortured and killed, the FCDO refused to refer the case to its murder and manslaughter team, a specialist unit supporting families of British nationals who are victims of homicide abroad.

The family criticized the FCDO for acting on pure discretion, saying the department deferred to the local police force’s classification of Andrew’s death as suspicious but not a homicide, despite the pathologist’s findings. They referred the case to Ealing Central and Acton MP, Dr Rupa Huq, who tabled a parliamentary question in April.

Dr Huq asked on what legal basis the FCDO deferred to a foreign police force’s classification of the death of a British national abroad over the determination of an officially appointed pathologist and an official death certificate. FCDO undersecretary Hamish Falconer responded that he was aware of the family’s case but there was no guidance on the specific circumstances.

Impact on the Family

The family said the delays and lack of support from UK authorities have had an “immeasurable toll” on them, while they have received no information or updates from the RGPF since mid January.

They expressed frustration over the inability to grieve properly, noting that grief requires a degree of resolution or the belief that those with the power to act are doing so. Instead, nearly five months have been spent campaigning for justice, examining horrific pictures, and carrying the weight of what was done to Frederick.

Eve Henderson. Co-founder of the Murdered Abroad charity, expressed bafflement at the UK’s reluctance to offer the murder and manslaughter team’s support, despite the postmortem and death certificate categorizing the case as a homicide. The charity was instrumental in the establishment of the FCDO’s murder and manslaughter team in 2015.

Henderson noted that there are between 60 and 80 homicides of British nationals abroad each year, which is about 10% of all homicides in England and Wales last year. She said people who approach the charity often face a maze of complications and frustrations, as much of the support is discretionary and not backed up by law.

Bernie Kinsella, a UK retired chief superintendent of police, echoed Henderson’s concerns. He noted the lack of meaningful progress in support for families since he worked on an overseas homicide case 25 years ago, despite understanding British police limitations due to lack of jurisdiction in foreign investigations.

An FCDO spokesperson said the department is supporting the family and is in contact with local authorities in Grenada, as the Metropolitan police stated they did not publicly comment on investigations led by other forces.

In Grenada. Director of public prosecution Howard Pinnock said Frederick’s file had been reviewed and advised the police to refer the matter to the coroner for an inquest. The RGPF was approached for comment but did not respond.