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Mullany murders: Honeymooners' killers jailed for life Mullany murders: Honeymooners' killers jailed for life
(40 minutes later)
Two men who murdered a Welsh couple on honeymoon on the Caribbean island of Antigua have been given three consecutive life sentences.Two men who murdered a Welsh couple on honeymoon on the Caribbean island of Antigua have been given three consecutive life sentences.
Avie Howell and Kaniel Martin were jailed for killing Ben and Catherine Mullany, who were 31 and from Pontardawe, Swansea Valley.Avie Howell and Kaniel Martin were jailed for killing Ben and Catherine Mullany, who were 31 and from Pontardawe, Swansea Valley.
The newlyweds were shot in July 2008 on the last day of their holiday.The newlyweds were shot in July 2008 on the last day of their holiday.
Martin, 23, and Howell, 20, denied killing the couple and a local shopkeeper.Martin, 23, and Howell, 20, denied killing the couple and a local shopkeeper.
Antigua's High Court, in St John's, heard that Mrs Mullany, a doctor, died almost instantly after she was shot in the back of the head during a robbery at the Cocos Hotel. Antigua's High Court, in St John's, heard that Mrs Mullany, a doctor, died almost instantly after she was shot in the back of the head during a robbery at the Cocos Hotel on 27 July, 2008.
Mr Mullany, a student physiotherapist and former soldier and policeman, was flown home to Swansea but died a week after the shooting.Mr Mullany, a student physiotherapist and former soldier and policeman, was flown home to Swansea but died a week after the shooting.
They had been married for two weeks.They had been married for two weeks.
The couple were buried in the grounds of St John Evangelist Church, Cilybebyll, near Pontardawe - the church where they had married. The couple were buried in the grounds of St John the Evangelist Church, Cilybebyll, near Pontardawe - the church where they had married.
The month following the killings, Martin and Howell were charged with their murders and that of 43-year-old Jamaican shopkeeper Woneta Anderson.The month following the killings, Martin and Howell were charged with their murders and that of 43-year-old Jamaican shopkeeper Woneta Anderson.
During the trial the jury heard a bandana with Howell's DNA was found at Mrs Anderson's shop. During their trial earlier this year the jury heard a bandana with Howell's DNA was found at Mrs Anderson's shop.
Forced to kneelForced to kneel
Recordings found on Mr Mullany's stolen Nokia phone were replayed, in which one of the voices identified himself as "Sample Dan" - an alias used by Martin.Recordings found on Mr Mullany's stolen Nokia phone were replayed, in which one of the voices identified himself as "Sample Dan" - an alias used by Martin.
An inquest in Swansea in October heard that the killers forced the newlyweds to kneel beside their bed before shooting them. An inquest in Swansea in October this year heard that the killers forced the newlyweds to kneel beside their bed before shooting them.
Neighbouring holidaymakers at the Cocos Hotel heard screams and gunfire at about 5am local time.Neighbouring holidaymakers at the Cocos Hotel heard screams and gunfire at about 5am local time.
The murders hit tourism on Antigua hard.The murders hit tourism on Antigua hard.
After the guilty verdicts, Det Supt Keith Niven, who led the Metropolitan Police's investigation team, said he believed Howell and Martin had set out to kill the couple. Britain's Metropolitan Police helped Antiguan detectives with the investigation.
"The level of violence inflicted upon their victims in order to steal such low-value property was incomprehensible and leads me to believe that murder was their primary intention," he said. Det Supt Keith Niven, who led the Met team, said he believed Howell and Martin had set out to kill the couple.
The pair had forced the door of the chalet and were in possession of a Glock .380 automatic weapon which they had stolen during a burglary on 26 May 2008, he said.
Speaking after the guilty verdicts, he said: "The level of violence inflicted upon their victims in order to steal such low-value property was incomprehensible and leads me to believe that murder was their primary intention.
"Ben and Catherine must have been terrified when they were awoken and confronted in their room by two strangers pointing a gun at them."Ben and Catherine must have been terrified when they were awoken and confronted in their room by two strangers pointing a gun at them.
Mullany Fund Mullany Fund
"Throughout this investigation and throughout the trial the two defendants have shown no signs of remorse - not even to Ben and Catherine's parents who have been present in court.""Throughout this investigation and throughout the trial the two defendants have shown no signs of remorse - not even to Ben and Catherine's parents who have been present in court."
Martin and Howell had faced the possibility of the death sentence - something which has not been carried out on the island since the 1990s.Martin and Howell had faced the possibility of the death sentence - something which has not been carried out on the island since the 1990s.
Two months after the murders, almost 900 people attended a memorial service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, including the Duchess of York.Two months after the murders, almost 900 people attended a memorial service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, including the Duchess of York.
The couple's families have set up a charity which aims to widen participation in the field of medicine and physiotherapy by offering grants to students.The couple's families have set up a charity which aims to widen participation in the field of medicine and physiotherapy by offering grants to students.
The Mullany Fund awards two £1,000 prizes each year to a physiotherapy student and a medical student at UWE and Swansea University's School of Medicine.The Mullany Fund awards two £1,000 prizes each year to a physiotherapy student and a medical student at UWE and Swansea University's School of Medicine.