Yacht Murder Briton’s Body Is Discovered Posted on March 30th
9:40pm UK, Monday March 30, 2009
Fishermen in Thailand have found the body of British yachtsman Malcolm Robertson who was murdered as he sailed with his wife, the Foreign Office has said.
Malcolm and Linda Robertson
Three Burmese migrants have been accused of slitting the throat of 64-year-old Malcolm Robertson and throwing his body overboard when they raided his yacht.
He was sailing with wife Linda off the Andaman sea coast off Thailand.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed that a body discovered in the water has been confirmed as that of businessman Mr Robertson, from Hastings, East Sussex.
Reports in Thailand said his body was recovered by fishermen about 10 nautical miles north of Satun’s Lipeh Island.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “A body recovered by the Thai authorities today has been identified as Mr Robertson.
“Our thoughts are with Mrs Robertson and her family at this difficult time.
Linda Robertson helped back on to land after her ordeal
“The embassy team with them is providing consular support.”
The discovery ends a week of anxiety for Mr Robertson’s family, who had to endure several false reports of his body being found.
Three migrant workers from neighbouring Burma who were arrested on a raft about half a mile from the couple’s 44ft yacht were charged with kidnap, assault and theft.
But Thai authorities said they could not bring a murder charge until they found Mr Robertson’s body.
He owned a chain of coffee shops in and around his home town of Hastings and St Leonards but passed the running of the business to his children in recent years and was semi-retired.
He was fulfilling a lifelong dream by spending the winter months sailing around warmer climes in his yacht, named Mr Bean, with his wife. They were both qualified yacht masters who had sailed round the world.
Burmese migrants arrested
The couple, who were married for 25 years, each had two children from previous relationships, and had seven grandchildren between them.
All four children went to Thailand to offer their support to Mrs Robertson, who escaped with minor injuries despite an ordeal on the yacht lasting several hours during which she was tied up naked and at one point had to walk through her husband’s blood.
Mrs Robertson’s brother, John Clee, 63, from Battle, East Sussex, said the family felt a sense of “relief”.
He said: “I had a text message from Linda saying how he was identified and how she was now feeling totally drained.
“This sorts a lot of things out. We know that charges of murder can now be laid against those responsible.
“Not only that, but my sister can also bring home her husband and hopefully bring some closure to this whole thing.”