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Gambia: Inquest into pensioner 'murdered in Gambia'

An inquest is being held today into the death of a wealthy pensioner allegedly murdered by his young African wife in the Gambia.

The charred remains of William West, 76, were found last July in a bag just outside the luxury four-bedroom home he shared with his 26-year-old wife Kate in the fishing village of Sanyang.

Dublin-born businessman Mr West, who lived in St Helen's Park Road, Hastings, died from a severe head injury.

According to reports in the Gambia, Ghanaian citizen Kate West denied murdering her husband after initially telling officers in interview that she knocked him unconscious before dragging him from their home and setting him alight.

Gambia Police spokesman Famara Jobarteh said she is appearing this week at Banjul High Court and has been remanded in custody.

Mr West met Kate West in 2000 and reportedly married her after a few months. His first wife, Doris, died in 1994.

It emerged that Kate West was a beneficiary in her husband's will, and was in line to inherit the Gambian property they shared.

Following his death, a team of Sussex Police detectives travelled to the Gambia to help local officers with forensic and investigative issues.

The team, led by Detective Superintendent Chris Gillings, took Mr West's DNA samples with them and returned to the UK following the three-day assignment.

The inquest takes place at Hastings Magistrates' Court.