THE mother of a Poole-born butcher who plunged 800ft to his death down a cliff in Antigua has dramatically accused his wife of involvement in his death, an inquest was told.

Peter John Beament, 35, was found at the bottom of cliffs at popular tourist spot Shirleys Heights, English Harbour, on May 27, 2001 after wife Roslyn reported him missing.

Mum Rosemary Beament, 59, of South Wales told the coroner at the inquest: "I know he didn't commit suicide.

"I think his wife had something to do with it and her boyfriends".

The inquest heard that Mr Beament, a master butcher, had moved out to Antigua, in the West Indies in 1996 and married wife Roslyn in 1999.

The marriage crumbled and Mr Beament discovered Roslyn, 25, was having an affair with neighbour Maurice Belgrave, the inquest was told.

In a statement read to the hearing, Mrs Beament said she became worried about her husband after she discovered he was missing.

Mrs Beament said she, boyfriend Maurice and some others began to search the English Harbour resort and alerted local police after spotting a red car at the bottom of cliffs at Shirleys Heights.

Police officer PC Brendon Sutherland climbed down the steep cliffs where he found Mr Beament's body lying face down next to the car.

Photographs of Mrs Beament and her boyfriends were later found at the scene, the inquest heard.

In a statement, Mr Beament's employer Edward Mayer of Trans Caribbean Marketing, said Mr Beament was "far from suicidal" prior to his death.

The Bournemouth inquest heard that an inquest in Antigua recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Coroner Sheriff Payne recorded an open verdict adding: "There are gaps in the evidence I am not happy about but sadly I do not have the power to fill those gaps."

First published: August 11