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Mullany Antigua murder trial: Accused silence attacked | Mullany Antigua murder trial: Accused silence attacked |
(1 day later) | |
A prosecutor has criticised two Antiguan defendants' failure to give evidence in the murder trial of a south Wales honeymoon couple. | A prosecutor has criticised two Antiguan defendants' failure to give evidence in the murder trial of a south Wales honeymoon couple. |
Ben and Catherine Mullany, from Pontardawe near Swansea, were shot in their hotel chalet on the Caribbean island of Antigua in 2008. | Ben and Catherine Mullany, from Pontardawe near Swansea, were shot in their hotel chalet on the Caribbean island of Antigua in 2008. |
Antigua director of public prosecutions Anthony Armstrong called Avie Howell's silence deafening and an unsworn statement by Kaniel Martin lies. | |
They deny murder. The case continues. | They deny murder. The case continues. |
Mrs Mullany, a doctor, and her husband Ben, a student physiotherapist, were shot in the five-star Cocos Hotel on 27 July, 2008, just over two weeks after they were married. | Mrs Mullany, a doctor, and her husband Ben, a student physiotherapist, were shot in the five-star Cocos Hotel on 27 July, 2008, just over two weeks after they were married. |
Mrs Mullany died instantly, while her husband, who was studying physiotherapy at the University of the West England in Bristol, was placed on a life-support machine. | Mrs Mullany died instantly, while her husband, who was studying physiotherapy at the University of the West England in Bristol, was placed on a life-support machine. |
He was flown back to Morriston Hospital in Swansea but died a week later. | He was flown back to Morriston Hospital in Swansea but died a week later. |
They were buried in the grounds of the church they had married in just over a month previously. | They were buried in the grounds of the church they had married in just over a month previously. |
The court has been told DNA, ballistics and mobile phone evidence pointed to Martin and Howell, who also deny killing a local woman, Wonita Anderson. | |
During the eight-week trial the jury has heard from about 90 witnesses, all of them called by the prosecution. | During the eight-week trial the jury has heard from about 90 witnesses, all of them called by the prosecution. |
The defence offered no evidence other than a string of denials. | The defence offered no evidence other than a string of denials. |
In his closing speech Mr Armstrong highlighted the two defendants' decision not to go into the witness box and give evidence under oath. | In his closing speech Mr Armstrong highlighted the two defendants' decision not to go into the witness box and give evidence under oath. |
"That was their right," he said, "but Avie Howell's silence was deafening." | |
An unsworn statement from Mr Martin was, Mr Armstrong said, "nothing more than a tissue of lies". | An unsworn statement from Mr Martin was, Mr Armstrong said, "nothing more than a tissue of lies". |
Mobile phone evidence heard during the trial had put Mr Martin in the area of the Mullanys' hotel at the time of the shootings. | Mobile phone evidence heard during the trial had put Mr Martin in the area of the Mullanys' hotel at the time of the shootings. |
The defendant claims he had gone there to use the beach. | The defendant claims he had gone there to use the beach. |
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