Police hunt for British wife of prime Antigua murders suspect 'Cloud'

The prime suspect for the brutal double murder of Catherine and Ben Mullany has a British wife, police say.

Officers in the Caribbean island of Antigua revealed that drug dealer Clarence 'Cloud' James is married to an English woman called Elaine. 

Detectives are extremely keen to talk to the woman, who is believed to live in London and work on a cruise ship.

Lead investigator Nuffield Burnette said: 'I understand James has an English wife who is in England right now. He has told us this. If she is available we would definitely like to speak to her.' 

Mrs Mullany, 31, died instantly after gunmen burst into the couple's cottage at the Cocos hotel in Antigua at 5am on July 27. 

Her husband, also aged 31, was shot in the back of the head during the bungled robbery. 

He managed to cling to life for more than a week before being flown back to the UK, where doctors switched off his life-support machine.

Antiguan police have questioned more than 30 suspects, but James is the only one still behind bars. Yesterday was his fourth day in the island's police station.

Detectives have said that they do not believe his alibi for the night in question. They have until tomorrow morning to release or charge him.

A holidaymaker who stayed in the same holiday cottage as the Mullanys yesterday told the Daily Mail that she too was burgled.

From joy to nightmare: Ben and Catherine Mullany are all smiles on their wedding day - barely two weeks before their brutal murders

Writer Jennifer Smith, 59, from Newcastle upon Tyne, said the cottage - number 15 - was well known for being vulnerable.

She added: 'It just felt so unsafe. There was somebody's garden to the back and anyone could get on to the balcony.

'When we were there we slept with our suitcases piled up against the door.'

Despite her precautions during her two-week holiday in 2004, the cottage was still burgled. 

The Home Office yesterday denied reports that it had delayed sending detectives to the Caribbean for fear that any convicted double murderer would face the death penalty.