‘Holiday island killers went on to third murder’

Newlyweds Ben and Catherine Mullany, both 31, were shot in an apparent botched robbery at their luxury resort, little more than a fortnight after their wedding day.

Their deaths came shortly before that of local shopkeeper Woneta Anderson, who was killed with a bullet to the head in an “almost identical” attack, it was alleged.

Opening the case in the Caribbean courtroom, Anthony Armstrong, prosecuting, told jurors that defendants Avie Howell, 20, and Kaniel Martin, 23, acted together, their crimes part of a “joint enterprise”.

“The manner in which these three people were killed was almost identical,” he said.

“All three victims were shot in the head. They were shot with a single bullet, no more, no less.

“All three victims were killed using the same firearm.”

The Mullanys, from Swansea, south Wales, had been staying at the Cocos Hotel in the south-west of the holiday island when at least one gunman burst into their hotel chalet as they slept.

Fellow tourists heard Mrs Mullany, a qualified paediatrician from the village of Pontardawe, begging for help in the early hours of July 27, 2008.

They reported screams, gunshots and a female voice pleading “Help me please” at about 5am. But when police arrived at the scene that Sunday morning, Mrs Mullany was dead – killed by a head wound after her assailant opened fire.

Her husband, a student physiotherapist from Ystalyfera who had formerly been a South Yorkshire policeman, suffered massive brain haemorrhaging after a bullet entered his neck and travelled up through his skull. He was transported back to Britain for treatment but was pronounced dead a week after the shooting.

On August 8, Howell and Martin allegedly struck again, this time killing the 43-year-old shopkeeper in her home during what police believe was a violent robbery, the court was told.

Mr Armstong said Howell and Martin could be linked to all three murders.

“Shortly after the shooting of Ben and Catherine Mullany, there is evidence which puts them in their possession of Ben Mullany’s stolen phone,” he said.

“In respect of Woneta, there is evidence that we will show you that places one of the accused at the scene.”

Howell and Martin deny three counts of murder.

As the case against them began, neither defendant showed a flicker of emotion.

Both sat in the open dock at Antigua’s High Court, in the capital city St John’s, listening intently to the evidence against them.

Martin, dressed in a purple shirt and jeans, and Howell, also wearing jeans, along with a white checked shirt, sat side by side. Both wore their hair in braids.

The prosecutor said: “We are saying that on the days in question, both Avie Howell and Kaniel Martin were acting together, that both were joint participants in unlawful enterprise to commit murder, and did so.”

The nature of the killings ruled out the possibility that either of the accused were acting in self-defence or following provocation, he told the court.

The Crown, which plans to call some 70 witnesses during the trial, will rely on ballistic, DNA, documentary, medical and mobile phone evidence.

Concluding his short opening statement, Mr Armstrong told jurors: “You should not be concerned about the consequences of your decision.”

He urged the panel to rely on “simple old-fashioned common sense”, adding: “I invite you to be fair and fearless.”

COUPLE ‘DESTINED FOR EACH OTHER’

according to their friends, Ben and Catherine Mullany were “destined for each other”, but their decision to marry set in motion a chain of events which was to culminate in their brutal murders.

Just one month after they exchanged vows, the couple returned to the same church – this time for a joint funeral.

Mrs Mullany was praised for her compassion and “natural ability to care” in her demanding job as a doctor.

Her husband, a physiotherapy student and fluent Welsh speaker, had served in the Army and as a policeman in Sheffield.

Both had returned to south Wales but their paths did not cross until they met in a pub close to their homes in their late 20s.