A 51-year-old man has been charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of 80-year-old Octavia Benoit of New Development, Monchy.
Police at the Gros Islet Police Station received a report of a stabbing at approximately 11:52 a.m. on January 15, 2026. Officers attached to the Gros Islet Criminal Investigations Department launched an immediate probe into the incident.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Benoit sustained multiple stab wounds to her body at her residence. She was transported to the Owen King European Hospital by emergency personnel from the Saint Lucia Fire Service, where she was listed in critical condition.
Her son-in-law, 51-year-old Bernard Andre, also known as “Korean,” of Georgeville, Castries, was identified as the prime suspect and arrested on the same day of the incident.
On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Andre was formally charged with the offence of Dangerous Harm and appeared before the First District Court on Thursday, January 22, where he was remanded into custody.
However, on Friday, January 23, 2026, medical personnel at the Owen King European Hospital informed investigators that Benoit had succumbed to her injuries. She was pronounced dead at approximately 4:35 p.m.
A post-mortem examination conducted on Monday, January 26, 2026, determined that Benoit died as a result of a stab wound to the chest.
Following her death, the charge against Andre was upgraded to murder. He remains on remand at the Bordelais Correctional Facility as investigations continue.
