SA Woman's Death in Mauritius Being Treated as a Murder

fAccording to the Sunday Times, the death of the 35-year-old Johannesburg woman, Lee Ann Palmarozza, is now being treated as a murder after a post-mortem found bruising on her body and a blow to her forehead.

Palmarozza’s body was found in the pool by her South African boyfriend, a wealthy Hyde Park businessman, Peter Wayne Roberts on Sunday night. The deceased and her 7-year-old daughter had joined Roberts in Mauritius on Boxing Day.

Roberts, who reportedly owns a villa at the resort, along with other luxury properties in South Africa and abroad, will remain on the island while police conduct an investigation.

News24 reported on Saturday that the Department of International Relations said it was providing assistance in Mauritius following the death of Palmarozza.

"We are aware of the case," said departmental spokesperson Nelson Kgwete.

"Our embassy in Port Louis is liaising with all affected parties and providing consular support."

The Saturday Star newspaper reported that the 34-year-old woman's body was discovered on Sunday after her boyfriend, whom she was travelling with, went to take a shower at around midnight.

When he returned she was gone. Along with hotel security, a search began and it was then that her body was found in the pool.

At that stage, Mauritian police told the newspaper that murder had been ruled out and an autopsy had shown that the body of the 34-year-old woman had no bruising.

However, the woman's brother told the newspaper that he had been told unofficially, that the possibility she had been murdered was being investigated, as severe bruising and an injury to her forehead were noted during the autopsy.

Palmarozza’s body is to be repatriated to South Africa tomorrow.