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Yard links honeymoon murder suspects to three other killings
Peter Dominiczak9 Mar 2009
Two men believed to be responsible for killing British honeymooners Ben and Catherine Mullany are facing three further murder charges following a Scotland Yard investigation in Antigua.
The Mullanys, both 31 and from Swansea, were killed on 27 July on the last day of their honeymoon during what police believe was a botched robbery in their cottage at the Cocos Hotel and Resort.
Antigua's prime minister Baldwin Spencer, called for help from Scotland Yard.
A team of five Met officers were sent to help with the investigation and provided ballistic evidence that linked the suspects' gun to three other shootings that summer.
Avie Howell, 18, and Kaniel Martin, 21, will stand trial over the murder of the Mullanys and have also been charged with the previously unsolved murders of island residents Tony Louisa, Rafique Kareem Harris and Juanita Anderson Walker, who were all killed within weeks of the British couple.
They were shot in the head also during suspected robberies.
Senior Sergeant William Holder of the Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force told the Evening Standard: "The Scotland Yard team guided our local officers and brought their expertise to the investigation.
"That co-operation led to these men being charged for three separate murders as well as the murder of Ben and Catherine Mullany."
Howell and Martin were arrested after some of the Mullanys' belongings were found in their possession.
Reader views (1)
That's a staggering five killings 'within weeks' on Antigua, very disturbingly three of which, until these killers were arrested, originally looked likely to remain unsolved.
On a tiny island like Antigua just what is the 'accepted' criminal killing rate?
It certainly doesn't sound like a safe holiday destination!
- Dave, Cumbria, 09/03/2009 12:49
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