Two Men Charged With Murdering British Honeymoon Couple in Antigua

Two men accused of killing the British honeymoon couple Ben and Catherine Mullany on the Caribbean island of Antigua last month were remanded in custody yesterday.

The pair, aged 20 and 17, appeared before magistrates in the capital, St John's, charged jointly with murder, robbery and receiving stolen goods.

Mrs Mullany, 31, died from a single gunshot wound in what police said was a bungled raid on the couple's holiday cottage at the exclusive Cocos resort on the island's west coast on July 27, two weeks after their wedding in Cilybebyll, south Wales.

Her husband, also 31, was also shot and was flown in a coma to Morriston hospital, Swansea, where he died on August 4.

Inspector Cornelius Charles, a spokesman for the Royal Antigua and Barbuda police force, said the charges were the result of cooperation between local officers and a team of five detectives and forensic science experts from Scotland Yard who flew from London to help the inquiry.

"The investigators have made a significant stride and hopefully this dreadful case is coming to its conclusion," he said.

The accused men are believed to live near the resort where Mrs Mullany, a newly qualified doctor, and her trainee physiotherapist husband were attacked on the last day of their two-week honeymoon.

A third suspect remained in custody yesterday, but Charles was unable to say whether charges would follow. The three were among eight men arrested last week after information was given to detectives by two women, aged 32 and 22, who were subsequently charged with handling property stolen from the cottage.

"A number of individuals were detained and questioned as a result of a proactive operation," police said in a statement.

"Consequently, some have been charged with drug-related offenses unconnected to the Mullanys' murder. The two females arrested and charged last week are still in custody at Her Majesty's prison.

"We are not in a position to disclose any details regarding their arrests and charges except to say they are linked to the other three persons presently in police custody."

The families of the victims welcomed news of the charges in a statement. "We were informed this morning of the news from Antigua and we are pleased at how the investigation is progressing," it said.

"We are not going to make any further comment at this time and we would ask that the media continues to respect our privacy."

A spokesman for South Wales police said: "Earlier today we informed the families of Ben and Catherine Mullany of the latest developments in Antigua. The force is continuing its support of the ongoing investigation and trained family liaison officers are continuing to support the families and keep them fully updated on events both in the UK and Antigua."

The two victims were buried together last Wednesday in a private service at St John the Evangelist church in Cilybebyll. The families said they were planning a separate memorial service for relatives, friends and work colleagues.

Philip Rogers, the Swansea coroner, has opened and adjourned an inquest into their deaths.

Antigua has experienced a rising murder rate - 19 in 2007 and 13 so far this year in a population of about 85,000 - and the island's 350-strong police force has struggled to keep pace.

Tourism officials, meanwhile, staged their own memorial service for the murdered couple and met police commissioner Gary Nelson to discuss security issues relating to the island's hotels and beach resorts.

"The whole country was in shock from this terrible crime," said Ted Isaac, chairman of the Antigua Hotels and Tourist Association.

"These charges will bring some degree of relief to the families of the victims, the community and everyone who values life."