THE murder of a Brit pub landlady in Trinidad has been shrouded in mystery after she was shot dead next to her husband in broad daylight.
Elaine McGowan, 65, was gunned down outside her godfather’s home on the Caribbean island – with cops still unable to establish a motive.
Elaine was shot dead in Trinidad on July 5 Credit: Facebook
The Brit pub landlady was killed in front of her husband Ian Credit: Facebook
She and her husband Ian ran The Castle Hotel in Hythe, Kent, before she was killed in Trincity, Arouca, on July 5.
Shocking footage showed the brazen daylight shooting – with the gunman seen getting out of a Nissan Tiida, firing three shots and then getting back in the car to escape.
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Voices could be heard screaming “oh my god” and “what happened?”
Elaine was rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Centre, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
ISLAND MURDER
Brit shot dead in broad daylight on Caribbean hols island as cops hunt gunman
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Chilling footage shows a Nissan Tiida pull up outside the property Credit: Facebook
A man gets out and walks straight up to the home Credit: Facebook
She had been visiting Trinidad to carry out business on her father’s farm in Cocal Retreat, Manzanilla, a rural coastal village on the east coast, according to her sister.
A police source in Arouca said: ” We are looking at every angle as with every murder inquiry.
“We are looking at persons of interest. We are looking at street cameras and other CCTV in the vicinity where the murder occurred.
“Nothing will be left unturned. No arrests have been made yet – we are looking at a couple of persons of interest but no arrest yet.
The landlady shot dead in Trinidad Credit: Cover Images
She ran The Castle Hotel in Kent Credit: Cover Images
“This investigation is going to be thorough and robust. We are looking at a number of leads right now.”
Police have urged anyone with information about the murder to come forward.
Trinidad and Tobago Police Service told The Jattvibe they were pursuing the investigation “with the highest priority”.
Elaine was with her husband Ian at about 11am on De La Mare Avenue when the shooting occurred, according to local media.
In a moving tribute, her heartbroken sister described the victim as a “brilliant, helpful and lovely lady”.
Joanne said her sibling had been in Trinidad doing business as the director of Cocal Retreat, her dad’s farm in Manzanilla.
The Brit pub owner was “continuing his legacy”, Joanne added.
She said: “Elaine, myself and my cousins grew up in South London in the 60’s and our parents – all immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago – always believed in the values of family and community.
“We spent every weekend and every holiday together and I learned at an early age how important family is in good times and in bad.
“If anyone has any information concerning this crime, please contact the police in Trinidad who are conducting a thorough investigation.”
Saltwood local Hemang Patel told KentOnline the news had rocked the village.
He had worked at The Castle Hotel under the previous owner, but knew Elaine from when she took over.
Hemang said: “We’ve always supported each other. She used our shop. We go there [the pub] all the time.
“I couldn’t believe what happened to her. It’s a huge shame. To me, she’s always been a brilliant person.”
Hemang said he’d seen Elaine two months ago when she said she had to travel to Trinidad and Tobago because of a family matter.
The current owner of the pub Jakki Monroe said “the village is in shock”.
She said: “It’s horrific and everyone from The Castle would like to send their condolences to all of Elaine’s family.”
The Foreign Office told The Jattvibe: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in Trinidad and Tobago and are in contact with the local authorities.”
