By FRANCIS JOSEPH
It has been a big story in the United Kingdom.
Who killed the British Pub owner in Trinidad?
That is the big question among the British newspapers – the Sun, the Guardian, the Express, the Daily Mail, the BBC, and others.
It is also a mystery in Trinidad why Elaine Mc Jouan, 65, was killed. Local Police told Sunshine Today they have no motive, except for a rumour that it could be family-related.
On July 5, Mc Jouan was shot dead around 11 am while standing in a yard at De La Marre Avenue, Trincity, with her husband Ian.
According to reports, a gunman got out of a silver Nissan Tiida and opened fire on Mc Jouan before escaping. That shooting lasted five seconds. She was rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Centre, Mount Hope, but doctors pronounced her dead on arrival. Her husband escaped unhurt. At the scene, he was heard saying ‘Oh my God!’ and ‘What happened?’.
But according to local police, they believe Elaine was embroiled in a bitter family feud over her father’s fortune which was worth millions of dollars.
According to her sister, Joanne Butcher, Elaine – the daughter of Trinidad immigrants who had settled in South London in 1954 – was outside her godfather’s house when the incident happened.Â
Elaine was understood to be in Trinidad to deal with an estate the sisters had expected to be left by their late father – but which was instead given to his new partner. Records found appear to indicate his latest will was issued just a month before he died.
Even in Kent, England, where she lived, her close associates said Elaine was expected to inherit a sizeable estate from her father, George Butcher, who owned a 24 kilometre stretch of the Trinidadian coast at Manzanilla.
George had moved to the UK along with Elaine’s mother in 1954, but returned to Trinidad in 1985 to run the land – much of which is rented out to small farms growing coconuts.
While none could say the exact value of Cocal Retreat, near Manzanilla, Elaine had apparently admitted she did not expect to have to work again after selling off the land.
But following his death aged 90 in July 2023, George reportedly left the estate to his new girlfriend instead – completely blindsiding Elaine and her sister Joanne Butcher.
Records appear to show that George’s will was updated on June 20, 2023 – just a month before his death.
Elaine and Ian travelled to Trinidad for a couple of weeks shortly after his death, telling friends they needed to ‘sort out’ her father’s affairs.
Elaine had privately said to her associates that she knew there was a chance she would be killed – though exactly what fuelled that fear remains a mystery.
After returning to the UK, they decided to sell a pub they owned in Kent.
One of her friends said, “They were planning on coming back to the UK in the second week of July, before moving to Trinidad for good. I really hope the police in Trinidad can get to the bottom of it.’
Elaine had told him only that she had some family business to sort out – but back at the pub she was more open about her objectives.
The friend said, ‘She said she needed to go over there to make sure she got the plantation. It took her by surprise when it was left to her dad’s girlfriend. She and her sister had been expecting it to go to them.’
Homicide Bureau Police in Trinidad confirmed Elaine’s death was a hit….no robbery. They said that her husband was lucky to be alive.
Elaine’s sister paid tribute to her, ‘Elaine, myself and my cousins grew up in South London in the 60s 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.’
No arrests have been made.
