News

Dutch tourist confesses to Kashmir houseboat killing

A Dutch tourist has reportedly confessed to killing a British fitness instructor on a Kashmir houseboat.


Richard De Wit, 43, from Holland, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday after he fled the New Beauty houseboat where 24-year-old Sarah Groves (pictured) from Guernsey was found dead.


He had been under the influence of cannabis or heroin, Indian police said.


He appeared before a magistrate in Srinagar yesterday and was formally accused of her murder.


Miss Groves had been staying on the boat for two months after beginning a relationship with the owner’s son while on holiday in Goa, the Daily Telegraph reported.


She was found dead by sons of the houseboat’s owner after their mother heard noises in the lake at around 2.30am on Saturday.


Kashmir’s deputy inspector general of police Aftal ul Mujtada told the newspaper that Mr De Wit had confessed to killing Miss Groves.


“He has confessed but he has not given any details,” he said.

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.