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| Death penalty after couple murder | Death penalty after couple murder |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Antigua's government will introduce the death penalty for crimes involving weapons in the wake of the murders of a British honeymoon couple. | Antigua's government will introduce the death penalty for crimes involving weapons in the wake of the murders of a British honeymoon couple. |
| The new sentencing legislation will be introduced for anyone who uses a gun or knife in a crime which results in death or serious injury. | The new sentencing legislation will be introduced for anyone who uses a gun or knife in a crime which results in death or serious injury. |
| The inquest into the fatal shootings of honeymoon couple Ben and Catherine Mullany has been opened and adjourned. | |
| Three forensics staff from the UK have been sent to the Caribbean to help. | Three forensics staff from the UK have been sent to the Caribbean to help. |
| The couple from Pontardawe in the Swansea valley, were shot in their hotel cottage in Antigua on 28 July, the last day of their honeymoon, in what police think was a robbery which went wrong. | The couple from Pontardawe in the Swansea valley, were shot in their hotel cottage in Antigua on 28 July, the last day of their honeymoon, in what police think was a robbery which went wrong. |
| We are getting intelligence reports that there are considerable dealers in firearms Collin Derrick, Antigua's justice minister | We are getting intelligence reports that there are considerable dealers in firearms Collin Derrick, Antigua's justice minister |
| Catherine Mullany, who was training to become a GP, was killed instantly after being shot in the head. | Catherine Mullany, who was training to become a GP, was killed instantly after being shot in the head. |
| Her husband, a University of the West of England physiotherapy student, died a week later after being airlifted to hospital in Swansea in a critical condition. | Her husband, a University of the West of England physiotherapy student, died a week later after being airlifted to hospital in Swansea in a critical condition. |
| They were both 31. | They were both 31. |
| Several people have been questioned in connection with their deaths but no arrests have been made. | Several people have been questioned in connection with their deaths but no arrests have been made. |
| The coroner for Swansea, Philip Rogers, released the bodies for burial at the opening of the inquest into their deaths. | |
| Post mortem examinations on the couple found both had died from gunshot wounds to the head. | |
| The couple's families did not attend the five-minute hearing at Swansea's County Hall, which was adjourned pending the outcome of inquiries by the police in Antigua. | |
| A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said it had sent three civilian forensics staff to Antigua last week to work on the case. | A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said it had sent three civilian forensics staff to Antigua last week to work on the case. |
| The island's police force is reported to have just one forensics officer. | The island's police force is reported to have just one forensics officer. |
| Catherine was killed and Ben Mullany died later in hospital in Swansea | Catherine was killed and Ben Mullany died later in hospital in Swansea |
| The deployment brings the number of British officers on the island to eight. | The deployment brings the number of British officers on the island to eight. |
| Antigua's justice minister Collin Derrick said the new legislation, to be introduced at the next session of parliament, would set a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison. Judges could also impose a sentence of life in prison. | Antigua's justice minister Collin Derrick said the new legislation, to be introduced at the next session of parliament, would set a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison. Judges could also impose a sentence of life in prison. |
| Gun traffickers, who are blamed for a recent spike in violence in the tourism-dependent Caribbean nation, could also be sentenced to death under the proposal, Mr Derrick said. | Gun traffickers, who are blamed for a recent spike in violence in the tourism-dependent Caribbean nation, could also be sentenced to death under the proposal, Mr Derrick said. |
| "We are getting intelligence reports that there are considerable dealers in firearms," he said. | "We are getting intelligence reports that there are considerable dealers in firearms," he said. |
| "At present, we're seeking ways to address that issue... which is causing tremendous injury and grief to families and this country." | "At present, we're seeking ways to address that issue... which is causing tremendous injury and grief to families and this country." |
| Antigua currently has the death penalty but only for murder. | Antigua currently has the death penalty but only for murder. |
| The current law establishes a maximum of 25 years in prison for an assault with a weapon that does not result in death. | The current law establishes a maximum of 25 years in prison for an assault with a weapon that does not result in death. |
| The island nation has had 12 homicides so far this year. | The island nation has had 12 homicides so far this year. |