Brit holidaymaker, 25, killed in mass brawl on holiday in Cape Verde leaving family ‘devastated’ as five arrested
A BRITISH tourist was beaten to death in a savage street brawl with locals in Cape Verde after being struck with a chair, cops say.
Dean Taylor, 25, died en route to Dr Ramiro Figueira Hospital on January 7, following a violent “altercation” in the tourist hotspot of Santa Maria on the island of Sal.
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Dean Taylor, 25, has died after a violent street brawl in Cape VerdeCredit: SWNS
The Brit had an ‘altercation’ with locals in the the popular tourist hotspot of Santa MariaCredit: SWNS
Five men have now been arrested over the death of the south-east London sales worker.
Cops said Dean was “involved in a disagreement with a group of about ten individuals of Cape Verdean nationality”.
During the attack, he was “hit with chair blows” before suffering “several punches and kicks” while on the ground.
The assailants then “abandoned the scene immediately”, officers said.
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Dean’s dad, Alexander Taylor, said the family are “devastated” by the loss.
The luxury brand manager said: “My wife is completely devastated. I’ve got a daughter as well and she’s completely devastated.
“My brother-in-law that is in Cape Verde was the one that called me when I was at work on January 8 [to tell me Dean had died].
“It was terrible. I wouldn’t wish that to anyone – not even my worst enemy.”
Cape Verde’s Judicial Police confirmed five men aged between 19 and 35 have been remanded in custody.
In a statement, officers said: “On the early morning of January 7 this year, around 03.00, there was a disagreement between a group of national and international individuals on the pedestrian street of Santa Maria, next to the Calema Pub, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old Irish citizen.”
The Foreign Office later confirmed Dean was in fact a British citizen.
Police added: “Following investigative efforts and with the support of the National Police, five suspects were identified, aged between 19 and 35 years old.
“The individuals were arrested between January 7 and 8 by the Criminal Investigation Department of Sal.”
Alexander said Dean had travelled to the sun-soaked island – fast becoming a hotspot for British holidaymakers – with three school friends on December 28.
He was due to fly home the day after he was killed.
Alexander said: “There’s a big thing about Cape Verde at the moment.
“They just wanted to go and spend some good times there.
“His friends say one of the boys was talking to a lady.
“A drunk guy that knew the lady got involved and when my son and his friend saw him being abused, they got involved to check what was happening and protect him.
“That’s when the argument escalated. There were people walking around and those people got involved.”
The family said Dean’s travel insurance did not cover repatriation, forcing them to pay €8,500 to bring him home.
They have yet to arrange his funeral as his body remains with a coroner.
Alexander issued a stark warning to British tourists, saying: “Be very careful if you’re going on holiday there and watch your back.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are the supporting the family of a British man who died in Cape Verde and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Cape Verde’s Judicial Police confirmed five men aged between 19 and 35 have been remanded in custodyCredit: SWNS
Dean’s dad issued a stark warning to British tourists, saying: ‘Be very careful if you’re going on holiday there’Credit: Alamy
