British woman smothered with a pillow in Mauritius

British woman smothered with a pillow in Mauritius

A British woman was smothered to death in front of her ten-year-old autistic son at their home in Mauritius, it emerged yesterday.

Janice Farman, 47, originally from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, is thought to have been killed by three men armed with knives, who stole jewellery and money before driving off in her Nissan Tiida car.

Her adopted son Gavin, who had been sleeping nearby, was tied up but managed to free himself.

He tried to resuscitate his mother and phoned one of her friends for help, according to local reports.

Police last night said they had arrested one man in connection with the case.

British woman Janice Farman (pictured) has been murdered in a robbery at her home in Mauritius while her young son was in the house

Mrs Farman, 47, is from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, and had lived on the Indian Ocean island for 13 years.

She was director of a data services firm and lived in Albion, ten miles from the capital Port Louis.

Police said the house was ‘easily accessible’ as it was not protected by high fencing or large gates and did not have surveillance cameras or an alarm.

The men are said to have entered the house at around midnight on Thursday.

They punched Mrs Farman then smothered her with a cushion before she collapsed on to her bed.

The thieves ransacked her home and took a TV, a games console and jewellery before leaving in her gold Nissan Tiida, which the police have recovered.

Gavin, who was adopted by Mrs Farman when he was two months old, was taken into care by the island’s child development unit.

Local newspapers said Mrs Farman was in the process of divorcing her second husband Jean-Baptiste Moutou, who was in his native Cameroon when the murder took place. He confirmed the couple had separated last year and said: ‘Janice is a person who would not hurt a fly.’

A police spokesman in Mauritius said: 'At about 1am on Friday, police received a report that there had been a case of murder in Albion.

The British Foreign Office said it was in contact with local authorities in Mauritius about the case. Pictured, police tape outside the villa 

'Police went to the property and found the woman lying in bed. The suspects drove away in the victim's car.

'The car has been found. It will be examined and we hope we will get evidence from the vehicle.'

Ms Farman, who has lived in Mauritius since 2004, was managing director of PECS Data Services. 

Stephen Littlechild, group MD of PECS Data Services, said: 'Last night our MD in Mauritius Janice Farman was brutally murdered in her own home.

Stephen Littlechild, group MD of PECS Data Services, said: 'Last night our MD in Mauritius Janice Farman (left) was brutally murdered in her own home'

'In view of these tragic events, we have decided to close our Mauritius office today, so we can make sure all our team have access to counsellors and as a mark of respect to a wonderful lady.

'Our thoughts are with Janice's family, friends and colleagues.' 

A colleague, who did not want to be named, said: 'She is the most kind-hearted lady I have met in my life. She would never hesitate to offer her help as and when needed.

'As a friend - she would help me every time I would be in distress.

'She always knew when something was wrong with me, so she would do her utmost possible, so we could go out on lunch or something so we can discus s everything and try to sort things out.' 

Ms Farman (pictured), who has lived in Mauritius since 2004, was managing director of PECS Data Services

The British Foreign Office said it was in contact with local authorities in Mauritius about the case. 

Yasine Mohabuth, the BBC's World Service correspondent in Mauritius, said Janice had recently moved to a burglary hotspot in the west of the island.

He said: 'Police said that she was smothered to death in her bed.

'They had arrived at three in the morning. It was her son that alerted a friend. The burglars stole many things including her jewellery and her car.

'Her son is now under the care of the child development unit because his father is abroad.' 

One friend Yasine Mohabuth wrote on Facebook: 'Janice Farman, such a lovely person, murdered' 

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