Mullany murder trial: Pair guilty of Antigua killings

Two men have been found guilty of murdering Welsh honeymoon couple Ben and Catherine Mullany in Antigua.

Mr and Mrs Mullany were shot on the Caribbean island on 27 July, 2008, two weeks after they married.
Kaniel Martin, 23, and Avie Howell, 20, both denied killing the couple from Pontardawe, Swansea Valley.
Mr Mullany, a student physiotherapist, and his wife, a doctor working at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, died after being shot in the back of the head.
Antigua's High Court, in St John's, heard Mrs Mullany died almost instantly and Mr Mullany a week later after he was flown back to Swansea to be placed on a life-support machine.
The following month Martin and Howell were charged with their murders and that of 43-year-old shopkeeper Woneta Anderson.
The two men, who refused to face questioning in court, had protested their innocence throughout the two-month trial, which involved more than 90 witnesses giving evidence.
The couple were shot in their resort cottage two weeks after they married.
They were buried in the grounds of St John Evangelist Church, Cilybebyll - the same church where they had married on 12 July.
Mr and Mrs Mullany's parents broke down in tears as the jury delivered its verdict.
A family statement said: "There is no joy at today's verdict, just a sense of relief that after three years of waiting there is justice for our children, and for Woneta Anderson and her family.

Ben and Catherine Mullany were shot at their hotel chalet at the Cocos resort, Antigua

"These two individuals can never again inflict the same anguish and devastation to any other family as they have to ours."
Previously, the jury was reminded of the testimony of one of a number of expert witnesses who said a bandana with Howell's DNA was found at Mrs Anderson's shop.
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.
Although Martin admitted to lying to police at first about being near the hotel, his defence team said this was only "because he was scared," the jury was told.
The prosecution received help from senior British detectives who were deployed to the Caribbean island following a plea from the country's prime minister who was concerned about the impact the couple's murder would have on tourism.
UK forensics expert Dr Christopher Moynehan, who also gave evidence at a trial into the murder of BBC TV presenter Jill Dando, told the court that tests found gunshot residue on clothing belonging to Howell and Martin.
'Natural ability' After the trial, members of the Mullany family paid tribute to the couple.
They said Mrs Mullany was destined to work in the medical profession, having harboured dreams of becoming a doctor from an early age.
She had attended Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera and was described by former teachers as an excellent pupil.

Adam Mullany Brother

After graduating in 2002 from the University of London, she worked at numerous departments at Singleton and Morriston hospitals in Swansea as part of her training to be a GP.

Hospital officials described her as having a "natural ability to care and being very compassionate" - especially while working at the paediatric unit in Singleton.
Among the young patients she cared for was the son of Swansea City footballer Ferrie Bodde, after the youngster suffered a severe asthma attack.
The Mullanys began their honeymoon in Antigua two days after their wedding.
The couple spent their first night as a married couple camping in an unknown location. They had deliberately kept the whereabouts a secret from their family and friends - and this was why they had chosen Somewhere Only We Know by Keane as their first dance at their wedding reception.
Since their murders, the couple's families have set up a charity, the Mullany Fund, which hopes to widen participation in the field of medicine and physiotherapy by offering grants to students, many of whom are facing sharp rises in tuition fees.

Kaniel Martin (right) was found guilty of killing Mr and Mrs Mullany, along with Avie Howell

It was launched at the memorial service for the couple and has since won the backing of the Duchess Of York and West Indies cricket legend Sir Viv Richards, who is from Antigua.
Mr and Mrs Mullany's family say they have been overwhelmed in the way people - from people who knew the couple to total strangers - have taken the cause to their hearts.
Mr Mullany's younger brother Adam said the charity had given him, his parents and his sister-in-law's family a great deal of comfort.
"Ben served his country in the army and he was a police officer. He just wanted to help. His whole life had been geared towards his true calling - becoming a first class physiotherapist.
"Ben's values and optimistic outlook on life will carry on through everyone he ever met and he will be missed forever.
"We can never replace Ben and Cath, but we hope to carry on the good work they had started.

Posted in: uk