By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

POLICE yesterday confirmed that they have located what they believe is the weapon used in the murder of the wealthy Australian podiatrist Phillip Vasyli at one of his Old Fort Bay luxury homes.

The Tribune also received unconfirmed reports that police are running forensic tests on a kitchen knife discovered at the scene on Tuesday.

Police reports indicated that shortly after 8am on Tuesday, officers responding to calls of a homicide at a home on Ocean Drive, Old Fort Bay discovered the body of the 59-year-old “born healer” with several stab wounds in his chest.

Donna Vasyli, the victim’s wife and two service workers, a gardener and a housekeeper are assisting police with the investigation.

The Tribune understands that Mrs Vasyli was being kept in a holding cell at the Central Detective Unit’s headquarters on Thompson Blvd while she is being questioned.

Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle told reporters at the scene that officers believed the victim had been dead for seven to eight hours before his body was found, following an argument the night before.

Mr Vasyli and his wife have two adult children, Aron and Lauren. It is unclear how long they had lived in the Bahamas.

He was fond of posting beach scenes on Twitter and was a big fan of mixed martial arts. His death is the 34th homicide for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

The news of Mr Vasyli’s death spread quickly around the world shortly after his body was discovered and has generated media attention in his home country.

Mr Vasyli established three podiatry clinics in Sydney and later founded an orthotic footwear company that sells products in the US, the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

He also ran a non-profit organisation with his wife, son and daughter to help improve the health of those living in poor communities, according to the company’s website.

Up to press time, no one had been charged in connection with the homicide.

Police are appealing to the public for help in this matter. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.