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On April 13, Kenny Mitchel, an employee of the Malliouhana Resort (an Auberge property) in Anguilla (which is a British overseas territory located in the Caribbean) allegedly showed up, armed and uninvited, at the resort room of Gavin Hapgood and his family and demanded money from Hapgood. Hapgood’s family was present - two daughters and his wife.
A struggle ensued during which Mitchel was killed. The subsequent autopsy showed Mitchel’s cause of death to be prone restraint and positional asphyxia blunt force trauma to his head, torso and abdomen.
Resort security intimidated?
Resort security personnel arrived mid-struggle between Mitchel and Hapgood, but did not intervene - many speculate, had they done so, that Mitchel would be alive to tell his side of the story. The rationale for not intervening? Katie Hapgood, the wife was filming the fight in her suite with her iPhone. It is not uncommon for private security personnel not to intervene if it means touching a guest. We’ve seen it on cruise ships when scuffles break out with regularity.
Hapgood arrested and released
When the Royal Anguillan Police Force (RAPF) arrived. They designated the hotel suite a crime scene. Subsequently, Hapgood and his family were moved, under police escort to the Anguilla Four Seasons Hotel and asked to remain in Anguilla.
Three days later Hapgood was arrested for manslaughter by the RAPF. Hapgood was at first denied bail (~$18,000) and incarcerarted, later that same day, he was granted an increased bail (~$74,000) and permitted to leave Anguilla after pledging to return 22 August 2019 for trial.
Hapgood, in a statement via his spokeswoman, Kelcey Kintner, said: “Neither invited nor expected, the worker showed up unannounced in uniform at the hotel room, claiming he was there to fix a broken sink before carrying out his sudden, violent attack on the family.” She continued, how Hapgood is, “A dedicated father and husband and respected member of his community, he and the members of his family have been traumatized by the assault they survived and are thankful to be alive.”
Tourist privilege?
Local populace claims Hapgood is receiving preferential treatment because he is both white and an affluent tourist. The RAPF Facebook page has multiple posts asking the populace to calm and allow the wheels of justice turn.
Whether or not Hapgood will show for his August 2019 trial or not remains to be seen.
A group “Unity for Justice” has been created and a Facebook page is sharing information attesting to the character of Mitchel, who by all accounts provided appeared to be well known, liked and carried a positive reputation. The group has also started a go-fund-me page with a goal of $120,000 of which $1900 has been rasied for the Mitchel family.
Tensions are high in Anguilla
Many making comments note that their expectation of justice is low; how affluent tourists are tolerated only for the money they bring; that affluence trumps law. One quote, “It’s a travesty from beginning to end; end being when wealthy white American citizen pays bail and boards private jet home after killing a man in another country.”
Travelers to Angiulla should be aware of the current tension, which can be expected to fester throughout the summer of 2019 when making plans to visit Angiulla. Monitoring the RAPF Facebook page would seem to be the means to monitor the situation, as the Anguilla Tourism Twitter account is silent on the subject.
