Police in Antigua are charging a man with murder in the stabbing death of a politician

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua – Police in Antigua on Saturday charged a man with murder for stabbing a controversial lawmaker to death at his seaside home this week.

Police on the tiny Caribbean island filed charges against 26-year-old Alexta Francis, two days after the landscape gardener was arrested and questioned over the murder of Asot Michael. Francis was scheduled to appear in court for the first time on Monday.

Authorities said Francis does not yet have a lawyer and it was not immediately clear where he was being held Saturday.

In a statement, Police Commissioner Atlee Rodney praised investigators “for their diligence and professionalism in handling the matter.” He later told the Associated Press that police did not plan to reveal the motive but would instead allow it to be revealed in court.

Michael, 54, was an independent MP and a wealthy businessman who rose through the ranks of ruling Antigua & Barbuda Labor Party to serve as minister. Although he was known in his constituency as a philanthropist, he was also barred from running for the party list following various controversies, including an international bribery scandal in which he denied wrongdoing.

He successfully ran as an independent in the 2023 election and retained his seat in Parliament.

Michael was found dead in his home on the west coast of Antigua on Tuesday when a housekeeper came to work and discovered his body with multiple stab wounds.

It was the first time that such a crime was committed against a parliamentarian in the island nation.

On Thursday, the government announced it would ask London's Metropolitan Police to help investigate the high-profile murder. As a former British colony, the country still has close ties with Britain and has in the past asked the London police for help in high-profile cases.

While their assistance will no longer be required for Michael's case, Rodney said they plan to use their expertise on other unsolved cases.