A British couple is moving to sue the T&T government for £2 million, five years after a brutal machete attack in Tobago. In August 2009, Peter Green and his wife, Murium were chopped and left for dead at their Bacolet Crescent home. They survived, barely and with permanent injuries. Green, 70, a retired hotelier, had a cracked skull, fractured cheekbones, smashed teeth, limited vision after the knife cut out his left cornea, and nerve damage.
Murium, who has multiple sclerosis, had both cheekbones and eye sockets smashed, and her jaw detached. According to UK media reports, the Greens are claiming that the T&T Government should have warned tourists the place was “dangerous.” They are reported as saying that they suffered ongoing physical and psychological damage from the incident.
The reports days after a German couple—Hubertus Keil and his wife, Birgid—were found hacked to death at Minister’s Bay, a stone’s throw from their Bacolet residence. Green is quoted as saying: “It might cost us a lot of money but we’re going to do it. We want to bring it to people’s attention that these islands are dangerous.
“There have been several other incidents. A Swedish couple was decapitated just west of Bacolet not long before we were attacked. It’s a beautiful place but they do not tell you your life is in danger if you’re going over there—it should carry some kind of health warning, like on a cigarette packet.”
According to the report, Green said: “The authorities don’t like me because I am a constant reminder of what their republic stands for. They say I’ve ruined their tourism industry and had an effect on hoteliers, but people need to know how dangerous this place is.” The legal challenge, the report said, will begin after medical assessments.
haunted house?
Since the 2009 attack, the Greens’ house has been up for sale, but neighbours believe because of the stigma attached it is yet to find a new owner. One neighbour told the Guardian: “Several couples from Europe and the USA came to view the property but after they were informed of the bloody attack they have changed their minds because they are very scared knowing to that the suspect is still on the loose.”
“Now with the (Keils’) double murder, it makes it even worse.” The resident is very concerned and is thinking of selling her property and leaving Tobago for good. A couple who was in the area on Friday told T&T Guardian that they were there to view several properties in the Bacolet area but were thinking twice whether or not to pursue with any transactions.
“This is a very serious situation and I don’t think we will be in any position to risk our own lives.” The Greens’ former residence is now overgrown with bush and vines. The white paint is washed out and the walls are partly covered in moss. The main door of the house is boarded up. Another resident compared it to a haunted house out of a horror movie.
Asked if the Keils had befriended the Greens, the resident said: “I will be honest, I do not know. But whenever we see each other, pleasantries are extended. That is a question that should be answered by Mr and Mrs Green.”