Jamaican police arrest man over deaths of retired British couple

Suspect detained in Kingston hours after Manchester pensioners found dead

A man has been arrested in connection with the deaths of a retired British couple in Jamaica, police have said.

Charlie and Gayle Anderson, aged 74 and 71, were found dead in their home in Portland on Saturday, having moved to the country from Manchester.

Local media reports suggested the couple's bodies had been covered in stab wounds and were “partially burned."

Police arrested a man in Kingston hours after the Andersons were found, the Jamaica Constabulary Force said on Twitter.

“The Police High Command has expressed regret at the recent killing of a retired couple in Portland and is giving their commitment that the top level investigation will continue with alacrity and the highest level of professionalism,” the force said in a statement.

“They are further stating that one man has been taken into custody as the detectives from the Criminal Investigation Branch Headquarters and the Maj Invest Division intensify the investigation.

“The man, who is considered a person of interest in the matter, was picked up on Saturday afternoon at a business establishment in Kingston.”

A statement from Mr and Ms Anderson’s sons released by the Foreign Office said: “Our parents Charlie and Gayle enjoyed a long and happy marriage of 55 years and leave behind their four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

“They were hardworking people, building a business with integrity and making sure we were always provided for.

“Charlie and Gayle were pillars of the community in Manchester and Jamaica, and were hugely popular and loved by many.”

A former neighbour, Kishore Singh, 51, who lived close to the Andersons in the High Bank area of Manchester, said the couple had moved to Jamaica around a year ago.

“They were two of the most beautiful people in the world. Charlie was like a father to me,” Mr Singh added.

Additional reporting by PA