Wife 'charged' with Gambia murder

The 26-year-old wife of a British man whose heavily charred remains were found in Gambia this week has been formally charged with his murder, according to reports.

William West, 76, from Hastings, East Sussex, had been staying with his 26-year-old wife of six years Kate at their holiday home in Sanyang for six weeks, but was reported as missing on July 3rd after a trip to Senegal, which encompasses Gambia.

Local police officers have indicated that Ghanaian-born Mrs West returned to the UK before flying back out to Gambia to report her husband as missing, although early reports suggest that the couple never in fact travelled to Senegal.

Assistant Superintendent Aziz Bojang of Gambian police said Mrs West directed his officers towards her late husband's remains herself, but has apparently protested her innocence at being involved in his death.

'She has named an alibi suggesting she was not involved but other people did it, that she collected the remains afterwards,' he said.

'The remains were badly burned and put in a sack before being dumped outside the perimeter fence of the four-bedroom home.'

Asst Supt Bojang added that a cause of death had not yet been identified, but that a post mortem was currently being performed.

'Whether he died as a result of burns or was set alight after his death is yet to be determined. Mrs West has been charged with murder. We will collaborate with British police to establish all the facts.'