A 25-year-old Tobago man has appeared in court on the island charged with attempting to murder Wellington couple Peter Greene, 65, and his wife Murium, 59, at their Caribbean retreat.

Clint Nigel Alexis told investigators probing the horrific attack on Mr Greene, former owner of the Blue Mantle Hotel, Mantle Street, Wellington, and his wife, a retired nurse, of St John's Close in the town, he went to the house last weekend to rob the Greenes, and attacked them with a machete before throwing the weapon into the sea, local reports said.

Mr Greene remains in a medically induced coma after suffering severe injuries which left him paralysed down the left side, and fluid on the brain.

Mrs Greene, who had a metal plate inserted in her jaw during surgery on Thursday, has not been well enough to give a statement to the police.

See Wednesday's WWN news for a full report