The legendary British actress Viscella Richards, known by her stage name Vikki Richards, was discovered dead at her home in North Valsyn, north of Trinidad. The 79-year-old TV personality’s hands were found bound, and police suspect she was killed by robbers during a burglary.
Richards gained fame for her supporting role in the 1973 British film “Black Snake” shot in Barbados. Her career spanned both stage and TV, featuring appearances in notable shows like “The Onedin Line,” “Return of the Saint,” and “Howard’s Way.”
Police are investigating the incident after a friend found her body on the bedroom floor. The gate was open, and the front door ajar, indicating possible foul play. The security camera’s hard drive was stolen, and jewelry was reported missing from her house.
Her friend, barrister Sir Timothy Cassel KC, said: “The gate was open when she was found and the door was open. So whoever was there was let in by her.
“Whether she knew them or not, or whether they manipulated her vulnerability, who knows? It’s terribly sad.”
Friends and neighbors remembered Richards as a warm and engaging person. They expressed their shock over the tragic event.
One neighbour said, “She was a beautiful lady, a warm person, engaging, thorough. Living alone in this place, we felt she needed somebody in the house with her, but in a situation like this with people realising she lived alone. She may have been a soft target.”
A family member, who asked to remain anonymous, told the press that Richards returned to Trinidad in January after spending time in England and Europe.
“She loved to travel and shop. She loved being out and travelled throughout Europe. She loved It.”
Richards, holding both Trinidadian and British citizenship, moved to the UK with her family at the age of six in the early fifties. Following her retirement from acting on TV and stage, she chose to return to Trinidad.
The circumstances surrounding her death raise concerns about the vulnerability of those living alone, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures.
The investigation continues as authorities aim to unravel the details of this tragic incident that has left the community in mourning.
