UBS banker, 44, accused of killing hotel worker in Anguilla shares photos of his injuries and says he put up the fight of his life against 27-year-old maintenance man who 'pulled a knife on him and tried to rob him in front of his young daughters'
- Scott Hapwood was charged with manslaughter for the death of Kenny Mitchel
- He was staying at the Malliouhana hotel in Anguilla with his family last month
- On April 13, he says Mitchel showed up at his room claiming to want to fix a sink
- Hapwood says he came inside, pulled a knife on him and tried to rob him
- He was inside with his two young daughters at the time and fought the man off
- He suffered bites to the face and cuts before a security guard intervened
- Hapwood said on Thursday that he did what any parent would have done
- He is due back in Anguilla on August 22 but is in the US after posting bail
These are the injuries Scott Hapwood says he suffered while fighting off a hotel worker who had come to 'rob' him in his hotel room on April 13 during a family vacation to Anguilla. The picture was taken after the attack, before Hapwood was taken to the hospital
The UBS banker accused of killing a hotel worker in Anguilla has spoken out for the first time and shared photographs of the injuries he suffered while 'fighting for his life' after the man showed up at their hotel room door, allegedly to rob him.
Scott Hapgood, 44, is due back in court in the Caribbean on manslaughter charges later this year for allegedly killing hotel maintenance worker Kenny Mitchel, 27, during a family vacation on April 13 at the Malliouhana hotel.
Mitchel is said to have arrived unannounced at their hotel room claiming to want to fix a broken sink that no one in the family had reported.
Hapgood says that once he got inside, he pulled a knife on him and tried to rob him.
It is not clear what exactly transpired afterwards.
Hapwood's wife was not in the room but his two young daughters were.
At some stage, the family says a security guard 'restrained' Mitchel but it is not clear who called for help.
It is also unclear how long after the incident Mitchel was pronounced dead.
Hapwood was taken to the hospital and then to jail where he spent one night before being freed. He then checked into the Four Seasons and spent two days there before being charged for manslaughter.
His family say he learned Mitchel had died during his first night in jail.
Mitchel's autopsy report says his death was caused by asphyxiation and blunt force trauma but it does not say what time he died.
Hapwood flew back to Connecticut last month after posting $74,000 in bail money.
In a statement to DailyMail.com on Thursday, his wife Kallie and the rest of their family said he was merely defending his young children.
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They say Mitchel had come to rob them and that Hapwood put up the fight of his life during which he was bitten several times on the nose.
In a photograph taken after the incident, he is seen bruised and bleeding with the skin on his nose ripped.
'When Scott and our family went on vacation, we never thought he would end up defending himself and our young children against an armed intruder.
Hotel worker Kenny Mitchel, 27, died as a result of blunt force trauma and asphyxiation. Hapwood says he pulled a knife on him once he was inside the room and that he demanded money
Hapwood and his wife Kallie were on vacation with their son and two daughters. She was not in the room when Mitchel appeared claiming to want to fix the sink
The family was staying at the Malliouhana resort when the incident on April 13 happened
'We were excited for our first family vacation abroad in the beautiful and tranquil Caribbean island of Anguilla. But with a single knock at the door, our dream vacation turned into a chilling nightmare—a literal fight to survive,' the family said in their statement.
According to their police statements, Mitchel 'pulled a knife' on him and tried to rob him.
Hapwood's two young daughters were in the room at the time but his wife was not.
It is unclear who called for help while the pair fought but, according to the Hapwood family, a security guard arrived and 'restrained' Mitchel.
Hapwood's family say he has done the right thing 'his entire life' and that he was acting in self-defense and to defend his family
Hapwood was taken to the hospital and then to jail where he spent the night.
His family say that it was the hotel they were staying in that then checked him into the Four Seasons the following day.
They denied that he was choked and said: 'Scott himself sustained severe injuries as a result of the physical struggle which ensued.
'Scott was literally fighting for his life.
He was bitten multiple times by the attacker, including on his face.'
'Scott’s wounds will heal, but the trauma of this incident will be with our family forever.
'Scott has spent his entire life doing the right things: he is married to his college sweetheart, he has worked at the same company for over 20 years, he is a volunteer coach and a loving and devoted father.
'[He] did what any parent would do — defend himself and his children.
And thanks to his actions, Scott and our family survived this terrible encounter,' they added.
The case has enraged local residents who said it was unjust that Hapwood was allowed to post bail.
Mitchel's brother has also spoken out in defense of him. He said he would never have tried to steal from a hotel guest.
Hapwood's family said he was trying to protect his young daughters at the time. He is shown with them
Hapwood has worked for UBS for 20 years, his family said. He is awaiting his next court date next month
'He would never try something that dumb. Even if it was possible he would not,' Kimon Mitchel told NBC last month.
'Why would someone try to do something like that? It doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t add up. It doesn’t make sense,' he said, adding that his brother was 'so nice' he even refused tips from hotel guests sometimes.
'He was a very nice person, and people at the hotel would always have good things to say.
'Everyone knew Kenny, everyone knew what type of person he was,' he added.
A local radio host also said it would have been out of character for him to steal.
'Everyone on the island can vouch for him. He is a hard worker; he did a lot of jobs at the hotel, he comes from a very good family, his father has a stellar record, brother has an unblemished record.
'Nobody can say that he was the type of person who would try to rip off someone or try to steal,' said Haydn Hughes.
The hotel has not commented.
