Police baffled by Antigua murders

More than 30 people have been arrested in connection with the shootings two weeks ago, but there are no clear suspects and the head of the force's crime unit resigned at the weekend.

Mr and Mrs Mullany, both 31, from Pontardawe, south Wales, were shot in the head in their cottage at the Cocos Hotel and Resort in the south-west of the island on the last day of their honeymoon on July 27.

Police spokesman Inspector Cornelius Charles said: "The investigation into the murders of the Mullany couple is ongoing. No one has so far been charged in relation to this investigation. However, investigators are currently focusing on forensic evidence, reviewing of notes, statements and interviews."

In a written statement, he added: "While we cannot give the details of this line of investigation at this stage, we are optimistic that at the completion of this stage of investigation, investigators should be much closer to arresting and charge the perpetrator(s) of this heinous crime."

Assistant commissioner Ron Scott, who was one of four Canadian police officers brought in earlier this year to transform Antigua's troubled force, resigned citing personal reasons on Saturday.

He said his resignation was not related to the double shooting or its investigation and Antiguan justice minister Collin Derrick said the resignation would not affect continuing murder investigations.

But the move came a month after deputy police commissioner Michael O'Neil, another Canadian, also resigned citing personal reasons.

The 350-strong force has no computers, no crime database and only one forensics-trained officer on the Caribbean isle, which has seen a rise in violent crime in recent months.

A team of five British officers have flown to Antigua to assist with the investigation.