British businessman kills TV star wife in murder-suicide in Turkey
A British businessman has killed his wife before shooting himself in an apparent murder-suicide.
David Thomas Blyth, 53, shot singer, TV presenter and comedian Victoria Vera Blyth at their villa in Ankara, Turkey, while their three young children were at home.
He first shot his wife before turning the same gun on himself with a bullet in the head on June 11, Turkish newspaper Hürriyet reported.
It is believed that the couple had aruged over messages he found on Victoria’s phone.
Victoria’s sister, Alexandra, posted on Instagram: ‘It is with deep sadness and pain that I have to announce that my beloved and beautiful sister, the sunshine of our lives who brought us so much joy, with her laughter, positive spirit, drive and energy, has left us forever.
‘Please, I’m begging you all, give us time for the sake of the children.
‘My family is going through a very difficult time because they lost both parents.
‘We recently buried our father and now our sister and brother-in-law and we need time to recover, but most of all we need to be here for the children.
‘We really appreciate your beautiful messages, but in these difficult times we need time to breathe.’
Their children – aged four, 10 and 14 – are being looked after by relatives who have travelled to Turkey.
Victoria was well-liked by colleagues who described her as ‘full of life’.
A statement released through Victoria’s family’s lawyer says: ‘During this difficult time, we would like to ask for the family’s privacy.
‘The loss of loved ones is extremely painful, and the whole family needs time to process this misfortune and find out all the necessary matters related to these moments.’
Originally from South Africa, 40-year-old Victoria moved to Czechia with her family when she was 14.
‘Dad was Czech, but in 1969 he fled abroad and traveled all over Africa’, she was reported by Blesk newspaper as saying.
‘He then met my mother in Namibia and they moved to South Africa together.’
Sometimes called Victoria Velvet, she first rose to fame with her 2006 debut album called Killing Me Softly, featuring a cover of Eagles’ Hotel California.
But her music career was cut short just three years later when she became pregnant with her and Edinburgh-born Blyth’s first child.
Victoria ‘thought she had bagged a Hollywood star’ when she first met Blyth in a central Prague bar, a close friend once said.
The couple continued living there after marring in 2014.
She later presented the Morning Show on Czechia’s Evropa 2 radio, alongside Leoš Mareš, before she moved to Turkey where Blyth had started a business.
A statement on the station’s website says: ‘The tragic news that came from Turkey affected everyone who knew Victoria.
‘All the more so because we knew her personally and for two years we met the beautiful and full-of-life Victoria at work.
‘We loved you so much Victoria and you will never be forgotten.’
Victoria, who described herself as ‘half Turkish, half Czech, half South African’ on social media, got heavily involved in the local community after moving to Turkey in 2019.
She launched DazSpor, a sports event company responsible for a half marathon called Runkara and other races.
The 40-year-old also launched other organisations focused on art and social solidarity, along with working to improve relations between Czechia and Turkey.
A statement on her company’s Instagram page says: ‘Condolences, we are deeply saddened by the passing of DazSpor founder Mrs. Victoria Blyth.’
Czechia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: ‘We can confirm that a Czech citizen died a violent death in Turkey.
‘Our embassy is in contact with the family and provides consular assistance. Out of consideration for the survivors, we will not be releasing any further information.’
Blyth’s body was handed over to his relatives to be returned to Scotland after an autopsy.
A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Turkey and are in contact with the local authorities.’
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