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| Women charged over Antigua deaths | Women charged over Antigua deaths |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Two women have been charged in connection with the murders of British honeymooners Ben and Catherine Mullany in Antigua, police there have said. | Two women have been charged in connection with the murders of British honeymooners Ben and Catherine Mullany in Antigua, police there have said. |
| The pair, aged 32 and 22, appeared before the chief magistrates in St John's, Antigua, on Thursday morning. | The pair, aged 32 and 22, appeared before the chief magistrates in St John's, Antigua, on Thursday morning. |
| Police on the Caribbean island said they were not in a position to disclose any further information at this stage. | Police on the Caribbean island said they were not in a position to disclose any further information at this stage. |
| The newly-weds, both 31 and from Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley, were shot in their hotel cottage on 28 July. | The newly-weds, both 31 and from Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley, were shot in their hotel cottage on 28 July. |
| They were attacked at the Cocos Hotel and Resort in the south west of the island in what police think was a robbery which went wrong on the last day of their honeymoon. | They were attacked at the Cocos Hotel and Resort in the south west of the island in what police think was a robbery which went wrong on the last day of their honeymoon. |
| Garry Nelson, the commissioner of the Antiguan Police, said the charges were a "significant development" but that they were still looking for others in connection with the couple's deaths. | Garry Nelson, the commissioner of the Antiguan Police, said the charges were a "significant development" but that they were still looking for others in connection with the couple's deaths. |
| "This has taken us where we want to go," he told BBC 5 Live. | "This has taken us where we want to go," he told BBC 5 Live. |
| "Any homicide investigation, any major investigation you rely on information you receive from either a persons of interest, persons who've been charged, or members of the public and we're following up on the leads." | "Any homicide investigation, any major investigation you rely on information you receive from either a persons of interest, persons who've been charged, or members of the public and we're following up on the leads." |
| Scotland Yard, which has a team in Antigua helping with the investigation, said it is not believed that the charged women are responsible for the murders. | Scotland Yard, which has a team in Antigua helping with the investigation, said it is not believed that the charged women are responsible for the murders. |
| One report said it was understood the charges related to goods stolen from the couple. | One report said it was understood the charges related to goods stolen from the couple. |
| A view from the Cocos Hotel and Resort where the couple were shot | |
| Inspector Cornelius Charles, a spokesman for the Antiguan Police said: "What happened, we had two ladies in police custody and they were charged today in connection relating to the Mullany investigation and they have been remanded in custody. | Inspector Cornelius Charles, a spokesman for the Antiguan Police said: "What happened, we had two ladies in police custody and they were charged today in connection relating to the Mullany investigation and they have been remanded in custody. |
| "For strategic reasons we would not want to go into detail of the charges." | |
| He said releasing any further information could jeopardise the investigation. | He said releasing any further information could jeopardise the investigation. |
| "We expect to do some further arrests further down the road. They were charged with some offences but were not charged with murder. That is as much as I will want to say." | "We expect to do some further arrests further down the road. They were charged with some offences but were not charged with murder. That is as much as I will want to say." |
| He said British officers had been "working together" with police on the island and that the charges were "a significant development as far as the investigation is concerned". | He said British officers had been "working together" with police on the island and that the charges were "a significant development as far as the investigation is concerned". |
| Funeral service | Funeral service |
| The couple were buried in a private ceremony on Wednesday. | The couple were buried in a private ceremony on Wednesday. |
| It is believed the burials took place at St John the Evangelist Church, in Cilybebyll, Pontardawe, where they married on July 12. | It is believed the burials took place at St John the Evangelist Church, in Cilybebyll, Pontardawe, where they married on July 12. |
| Their families said they were planning to hold a funeral service at a later date to allow extended family members, friends and colleagues to pay their respects. | Their families said they were planning to hold a funeral service at a later date to allow extended family members, friends and colleagues to pay their respects. |
| 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. |
| South Wales Police said it had informed the families of Mr and Mrs Mullany of the latest developments in Antigua. | South Wales Police said it had informed the families of Mr and Mrs 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," it said in a statement. | "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," it said in a statement. |
| Death penalty | Death penalty |
| More than 30 people have been questioned in connection with the shootings and a total of eight British officers have flown to Antigua to assist with the investigation. | More than 30 people have been questioned in connection with the shootings and a total of eight British officers have flown to Antigua to assist with the investigation. |
| The island's troubled 350-strong force, which is faced with rising violence, has no computers, no crime database and only one forensics-trained officer. | The island's troubled 350-strong force, which is faced with rising violence, has no computers, no crime database and only one forensics-trained officer. |
| Assistant commissioner Ron Scott, who was head of the force's crime unit and one of four Canadian police officers brought in earlier this year to transform Antigua's force, resigned at the weekend citing personal reasons. | Assistant commissioner Ron Scott, who was head of the force's crime unit and one of four Canadian police officers brought in earlier this year to transform Antigua's force, resigned at the weekend citing personal reasons. |
| Antiguan justice minister Collin Derrick said the resignation would not affect the continuing murder investigations. | Antiguan justice minister Collin Derrick said the resignation would not affect the continuing murder investigations. |
| Earlier this week, Antigua's government said it will introduce the death penalty for crimes involving weapons in the wake of the murders of the couple. | Earlier this week, Antigua's government said it will introduce the death penalty for crimes involving weapons in the wake of the murders of the 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. |