Darien Man Charged In Anguilla Killing Says It Was Self-Defense

DARIEN, CT — A spokeswoman for Gavin Scott Hapgood, the 44-year-old Darien man accused of manslaughter in Anguilla earlier this month, claims the killing was in self-defense after hotel worker Kenny Mitchel attacked him.

"Attacked without warning in his family's hotel room by a maintenance worker who was armed and demanding money, Scott Hapgood acted in self-defense to protect the lives of his young daughters and himself," said Kelcey Kintner, Hapgood's representative with the public relations and crisis management firm Red Banyan, in a statement to Patch.

"Despite false reports to the contrary, the Hapgoods never called maintenance. Neither invited nor expected, the worker showed up unannounced in uniform at the hotel room, claiming he was there to fix a broken sink before carrying out his sudden, violent attack on the family.

"A dedicated father and husband and respected member of his community, Scott and the members of his family have been traumatized by the assault they survived and are thankful to be alive."

Randy Dick, a spokesman for the Royal Anguilla Police Force, told the Stamford Advocate that the April 13 killing occurred in front of Hapgood's children.

The RAPF has not released information on the specific circumstances surrounding the killing, but the department charged Hapgood with manslaughter three days after the killing.

The victim's brother, Kimon Mitchel, told NBC News that he does not believe that his brother would attack a guest in the hotel, in part because staff members wear branded uniforms with name tags.

Hapgood is back in the states, and his case resumes in court in Anguilla in August.