British pub landlady, 65, is shot dead in front of her husband during trip to Caribbean

By SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:18, 15 July 2026 | Updated: 15:22, 15 July 2026 A British landlady has been shot dead in front of her husband while on holiday in the Caribbean.  Elaine McGowan, 65, who ran The Castle Hotel in Hythe, Kent, was killed in Trinidad and Tobago on July 5.  According to her sister, Joanne Butcher, Mrs McGowan was struck by a gunman outside her godfather's house opposite Trincity Mall. Mrs McGowan was rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Centre, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.  She had been visiting the Caribbean island nation to carry out business at her father's farm, Cocal Retreat, in Manzanilla.   She was the daughter of Caribbean immigrants who had settled in South London in the 1960s.  Mrs McGowan's husband Ian was with her at the time of the violent attack.  No arrests have been made so far, and police have yet to establish a motive for the killing.   Elaine McGowan, 65, who ran The Castle Hotel in Hythe, Kent, was killed in Trinidad and Tobago on July 5. Elaine is pictured with her husband Ian McGowan Joanne has urged anyone with information concerning the crime to contact the police in Trinidad.  Mrs McGowan is survived by her husband and 'many, many family and friends', Joanne said.  Tributes have poured in for the former pub lady, who ran The Castle Hotel from 2019 until last summer.  Former colleague Hemang Patel told Kent Online: 'I couldn't believe what happened to her. It's a huge shame. 'To me, she's always been a brilliant person. A lot of people know her. It's been quite shocking this week. I can't believe it's happened to someone, you don't expect it.' Sister Joanne went on to say: 'Elaine, myself and my cousins grew up in South London in the 60's 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.'  The Daily Mail has approached the Foreign Office for comment.  The tragedy comes several months after a British tourist drowned off Colombia's Caribbean coast.  James Michael Winkles died during an early-hours dip off the Caribbean port city of Cartagena back in March.  The 30-year-old is said to have arrived in Colombia on March 9, with local authorities saying he was staying at a hotel in a popular tourist peninsula and residential neighbourhood called El Laguito, where the tragedy happened. The Brit holidaymaker was pronounced dead at the scene after failed efforts by emergency responders to revive him.