British man’s naked body ‘found beside goat’s head’ amid fears of ritual killing in Sicily

Police are investigating the death outside of the remote town of Canicattini Bagni (Picture: Facebook)

Mystery surrounds the death of a British man with locals fearing his death could be connected to esoteric rituals.

Benjamin John Braithwaite,35,was found dead by a makeshift tent on the land surrounding an abandoned Sicilian farmhouse on Sunday morning.

A goat’s head,drug paraphernalia,and a rope were discovered close to his naked body just a few kilometres from the town of Canicattini Bagni,according to local media reports.

It was reported that the Brit had been camping in the area for a few days and had been looking to join up with the nomadic group settled in the Sicilian mountains.

A few people staying at the camp will be interviewed by police after neck injuries were discovered.

Hippie communities have taken up lodgings close to the Sicilian coastline (Picture: Getty)

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.The close-knit Canicattini Bagni community has been rocked by the death,which has marred the isolated town’s celebration of its patron saint.Townsfolk have been seeking information on ‘flower child’ hippie communities performing ‘spiritual rituals’ out in the rugged countryside.Locals told La Sicilia that decades ago,a group of youths would break into the cemetery at night to light fires and write on the walls – but they were identified and punished by their parents.Mayor Paolo Amenta spoke out on the death,telling the town: ‘I am—and we,as a community,are—deeply shaken and saddened by what has occurred.‘A person’s life is too precious to end in such dramatic circumstances—circumstances that have yet to be clarified. We stand with the family and share in their sorrow.’The town’s mayor has reiterated the need for caution and to allow authorities including public prosecutors and forensics to carry out their investigation.‘They have never caused any problems. They are mostly nomadic people passing through,’ Mayor Amenta said when asked about the group ‘who are seeking a freer life’.He said children are often seen with the group as others are invited to join the lifestyle,even setting up more permanent homes.‘When I had the opportunity to speak with them,they always conveyed a

strong sense of serenity to me. This is also why I was saddened and shocked by this news.’‘They stay in the area for an average of ten days to a month. Some,however,stay longer’,he added.Mr Benjamin’s body has been taken to the Lentini hospital morgue where an autopsy will hope to determine his cause of death.The autopsy will be crucial for clarifying the circumstances of the death and determining the nature of the injuries found on the body. A toxicology report is also expected to shed light on the death.The Foreign Office said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Italy and are in touch with the local authorities.’