Dome casino tycoon killed in helicopter crash

Howard "Butch" Kerzner, 42, was killed with three others when the aircraft crashed into the roof of a nursery growing ornamental plants.

Mr Kerzner was chief executive officer of gambling giant Kerzner International which had joined forces with US billionaire Philip Anschutz on the Dome project.

His father Sol Kerzner, 71, who made his fortune running the infamous "Sun City" resort in South Africa under the apartheid regime, was being flown to the crash site in the Dominican Republic.

The helicopter crashed on the roof of a building in the Caribbean island's tourist resort of Sousa.

He had been surveying potential development sites in the country. The three others killed were two officers in the Dominican armed forces and the son of a US property developer.

An investigation is under way today into what caused the Robinson 44 helicopter to crash.

Kerzner International is working with Mr Anschutz's AEG leisure group on the detailed bid to build a casino at Greenwich.

Mr Anschutz was plunged into controversy when it emerged earlier this year that John Prescott had been a guest at his ranch in America and had accepted gifts from him. The Deputy Prime Minister was later criticised by a government inquiry which concluded he had opened himself to charges of impropriety by visiting the tycoon at a time when he was bidding for the casino at the Dome site. Mr Prescott failed to declare the stay in the Commons' Register of Members' Interests.

Kerzner International has a deal with AEG to be the operator of the Dome gambling complex which AEG is seeking to develop. However, if Greenwich council wins the right to issue a licence for what would be Britain's first supercasino, the Government may force it to carry out an "open and fair" competition to select the operator.

Mr Kerzner, who was born and grew up in South Africa, is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and two young children. His company said: "It is with great sadness that the entire company mourns the tragic loss of Butch Kerzner."

In 1997 Sol Kerzner successfully blocked a book, Kerzner Unauthorised, by journalist Allan Greenblo, which accused him of corrupt dealings with the apartheid government, and of profiteering from apartheid policies.

Kerzner International has stakes in five resorts in Mauritius, one in Mexico and manages a resort in Dubai.

It developed and owns nearly 70 per cent of the Bahamas' Paradise Island, home to its 2,300-room Atlantis casino resort, which includes a man-made marine habitat and 60 acres of pools.

The firm went private in September when Butch Kerzner and his father led a group of investors in a $3.8 billion buyout.

As well as the Dome bid, Kerzner is one of several companies bidding to build a casino resort in Singapore.

The firm insisted today that its bid to build and operate a casino on Sentosa Island would go ahead and it is expected it

He added: "Our only comfort is the certain knowledge we have that Butch's work in the Bahamas will continue on pace and that his vision for Atlantis and for Bahamian tourism will be brought to fruition."