Family members of a Canadian resident killed in Grenada are upset that the police officers charged in relation to his death are facing manslaughter rather than murder charges.

Oscar Bartholomew, who was in Grenada with his Canadian wife visiting family, was allegedly beaten to death last week by police officers after he hugged a female officer he mistook for a childhood friend.

Five police officers have been charged with manslaughter and will appear in court on Tuesday, said Nicole Best, a freelance journalist in Grenada.

She said Bartholomew's family is happy the matter is being taken seriously, but isn't satisfied with the charges.

"They are not happy that people are being charged with just manslaughter," Best told CTV's Canada AM.

"They say they believe there is enough evidence given by eyewitnesses that the police interviewed as well as evidence from the second autopsy that was conducted on Saturday that these folks could be charged with murder."

An initial autopsy found Bartholomew died from head trauma including a fractured skull, brain trauma, internal cranial bleeding and a brain hemorrhage.

The second autopsy, which included X-rays, found additional injuries, Best said.

"It revealed Oscar suffered broken bones, broken ribs, he has a broken hand and other wounds across his body," she said after speaking with a family member.

"They also said the report indicated duct tape was used on him, but they did not go into details as to where it was used or how it was used."

Though the family was asked not to reveal further details since the case is before the courts, Best said sources have told her it appears Bartholomew was beaten with a truncheon.

Bartholomew, a 39-year-old permanent resident of Canada who lived in Toronto with his wife, died in hospital last Tuesday.

Witnesses and family members say Bartholomew had visited the St. David's police station last Monday so that his wife could use the washroom. He mistakenly thought a plainclothes female officer was a childhood friend and hugged her, lifting the woman off the ground.

Police officers allegedly responded by taking Bartholomew inside the station and beating him. He was taken to hospital where he died a day later from severe head trauma.

Two officers were charged with manslaughter on Saturday, and three more were charged on Sunday. All five are scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 3.

Grenada's Police Commissioner Willan Thompson has said the beating death is an isolated incident, and will be thoroughly investigated.

Prime Minister Tillman Thomas told The Canadian Press Sunday that travellers shouldn't be dissuaded from coming to his country.

"This is really an isolated case, it's unfortunate," he said.

"But people who know Grenada, people who have been coming to Grenada, will tell you that Grenada is the safest destination in the Caribbean."