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Former partner of millionaire Briton in court on murder charge Former partner of millionaire Briton in court on murder charge
(about 1 hour later)
A woman accused of shooting dead her British millionaire ex-boyfriend at his home in Spain has told a judge she “never wanted to hurt him”.A woman accused of shooting dead her British millionaire ex-boyfriend at his home in Spain has told a judge she “never wanted to hurt him”.
Slovakian national Mayka Kukucova appeared in front of a jury for the first time at the Ciudad de la Justicia in Málaga, charged with murdering Andrew Bush in April 2014.Slovakian national Mayka Kukucova appeared in front of a jury for the first time at the Ciudad de la Justicia in Málaga, charged with murdering Andrew Bush in April 2014.
She gave a tearful account of the events leading up to Bush’s death after the prosecution told the court he died after being shot three times, once in the shoulder and twice in the head.She gave a tearful account of the events leading up to Bush’s death after the prosecution told the court he died after being shot three times, once in the shoulder and twice in the head.
Kukucova has not entered a plea in relation to killing Bush, 48, who was from Bristol. Kukucova, 26, has not entered a plea in relation to killing Bush, 48, who was from Bristol.
The court heard she was arrested after handing herself in to authorities in Slovakia four days after the shooting and was extradited back to Spain.The court heard she was arrested after handing herself in to authorities in Slovakia four days after the shooting and was extradited back to Spain.
She explained that the pair had fought with each other after he returned to his house near Marbella, on the Costa del Sol, and that during the confrontation shots were fired.She explained that the pair had fought with each other after he returned to his house near Marbella, on the Costa del Sol, and that during the confrontation shots were fired.
Her defence counsel, Carlos Larranaga, said: “The facts are that a person has died. There was a homicide but we have not accepted that my client is a murderer.Her defence counsel, Carlos Larranaga, said: “The facts are that a person has died. There was a homicide but we have not accepted that my client is a murderer.
“My client shot him.”“My client shot him.”
He told the jury: “You must decide if Mr Bush was killed in an aggressive way, or as a method of defence.”He told the jury: “You must decide if Mr Bush was killed in an aggressive way, or as a method of defence.”
The trial continues. The pair met when Kukucova worked at a jewellery store owned by Bush in Bristol. Kukucova said they were together for two and a half years before the relationship broke down.
On Monday in court, recalling the day of the killing, Kukucova explained that she had gone to Bush’s home to collect her things when he returned unexpectedly from a trip with his new girlfriend.
Kukucova said: “I was watching television, then I heard Andy in the garden. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I went upstairs to get dressed.
“When he came and saw me he told his girlfriend (Maria Korotaeva) to go out to the car. “He started shouting and hitting me and took me strongly by the arms. I said I wanted to go but he said no. He was shouting that he was going to kill me and my family.”
After a struggle down the stairs, Kukucova said: “Then the gun was in my hands. I threw myself on him and we were fighting and then the gun went off. I couldn’t hear anything. I was just trying to get away. I didn’t want to hurt him.”
She said she had tried to go back upstairs but there was another struggle on the staircase as Bush came after her.
She said of the struggle: “I don’t know how many times the gun went off.”
The court heard Kukucova then left the house and told Korotaeva to get out of Bush’s car before driving off.
The suspect handed herself in to authorities in her home town of Nova Bosaca in Slovakia where she was detained on suspicion of “consumed intentional homicide” before being extradited to Spain to face charges of murder and vehicle theft.
Korotaeva, a Russian national, met Bush while studying as an undergraduate at the University of the West of England.
Following his death, she posted a picture of the couple on Instagram with the message: “I will always love you. You will always be in my heart. The man who changed my world for better. My teacher. I wish I could of saved you. RIP Andy Bush.”
The trial is due to last until the end of the week, with Bush’s sister, Rachel, expected to give evidence.