Pair convicted of Antigua honeymoon couple's murders

The parents of a British honeymoon couple shot dead on Antigua wept with relief today as two men were convicted of the murders.

Ben and Catherine Mullany were shot in the back of the head during a dawn raid on their beach cottage on July 27, 2008. Kaniel Martin, 23, and Avie Howell, 20, were found guilty of murder after a two-month trial at Antigua's High Court in St John's.

Senior British detectives were deployed to the Caribbean island to assist the investigation following a plea from the country's prime minister.

Mr Mullany's parents, Cynlais and Marilyn, and his wife's parents, Dai and Rachel Bowen, broke down in tears as the jury of eight men and four women delivered its verdict shortly before midnight local time, following more than 10 hours of deliberations.

In a statement the families 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. These two individuals can never again inflict the same anguish and devastation to any other family as they have to ours.

"We will never be able to comprehend the senseless nature of their deaths, the total disregard shown for human life and that no remorse has ever been shown."

Mr and Mrs Mullany, both 31, had been married for two weeks when they were shot at the five-star Cocos Hotel. Their killers stole two inexpensive mobile phones, a cheap digital camera and a small amount of money.

Mrs Mullany, a doctor, died instantly. Her husband, a student physiotherapist, was flown home to Wales but his life support was turned off one week later. Both were from Pontardawe, Swansea Valley. They were buried in the grounds of St John's The Evangelist Church in Cilybebyll, where they had married.

Two weeks after the murder, Howell and Martin - nicknamed "Sample Dan" and "Demon" - carried out an identical attack on a local woman. Forensic tests showed the bullets in all three killings came from the same gun. The pair refused to face questioning in court and protested their innocence throughout their trial, which saw more than 90 witnesses give evidence. They will be sentenced on September 26.

Mr and Mrs Mullany's parents praised the work of the Metropolitan, South Wales and Antigua police who carried out a joint operation.

Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Keith Niven said: "Such is the disproportionate level of violence when balanced against the low value of property stolen, that leaves me to believe that the murders were the primary objective and the theft was a secondary intention."

Antigua executes people by hanging, but has not carried out an execution since 1991. The Foreign Office had attempted to ensure that no death penalty would be imposed out in return for providing police assistance.

Antigua's director of public prosecutions today said it "would reserve judgment" on calling for a death sentence.