Scott Hapgood Sued By Estate Of Man He's Accused Of Killing

DARIEN, CT — Scott Hapgood, the Darien resident at the heart of an international manslaughter case in Anguilla, has been sued by the estate of the 27-year-old hotel worker he is accused of killing during an altercation on the Caribbean island in April.

The lawsuit by the estate of Kenny Richie Marty Mitchel was filed in United State District Court in Connecticut on Dec. 4, according to paperwork obtained by Fox61.

It accuses Hapgood of intentional battery and negligence which caused Mitchel's death, and seeks damages in excess of $75,000.

"As a direct and proximate result of the defendant's negligence, the plaintiff's decedent, Kenny Mitchel, died of prone restraint, positional asphyxia, and blunt force trauma to the head, neck, and torso," the lawsuit reads.

"As a further direct and proximate result of the defendant's negligence, plaintiff's decedent was casused to suffer physical pain, emotional distress, and the complete and permanent loss of his ability to pursue all of life's activities, including his ability to earn income to provide for himself and for his minor child, Mylie Mitchel."

Patch reached out to Hapgood spokesperson, Jamie Diaferia, for comment and received the following response.

"Scott hasn’t even been served, so we can't comment," Diaferia said.

Hapgood has been charged with manslaughter by authorities in Anguilla. But after numerous trips back to the island over the summer and early fall to meet legal obligations in the case, he is now refusing to return to the island due to death threats and what he claims are unfair proceedings.

He has steadfastly maintained that he only acted in self-defense in the hotel room altercation from which Mitchel died, and his legal team has highlighted a medical examiner's report that says Mitchel had a lethal amount of cocaine in his system at the time of his death.

The case has evolved into a political situation, with President Donald Trump and other United States federal leaders commenting on the case.