Briton killed in Ecuador ‘mistaken for thief’

A LONDON researcher has been killed in Ecuador after being mistaken for a thief during a study trip.

Ben Samphire, 31, died instantly after being shot on Monday afternoon near the village of El Palmar on the South American country's Pacific coast.

Mr Samphire, who had recently gained a PhD at University College London's Institute of Archeology, had travelled to the area to investigate a rare species of monkey.

Police believe he was killed after a local landowner mistook him for a thief. They are still looking for the killer.

Local authorities are making arrangements to repatriate Mr Samphire's body.

Professor Stephen Shennan, director of the UCL Institute of Archeology and former supervisor of Mr Samphire's PhD, said today: "Ben was a very bright and engaging young man.

"His PhD explored current theories on human cognitive evolution, comparing these to evidence in the archaeological and anthropological record.

"By the time of its successful conclusion Ben had decided that he wanted to work at a more practical level and decided to pursue a career in primate conservation."

Mr Samphire, who was born in Bristol, is thought to have been with two other British volunteers when he was killed.