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| Island tenant 'murdered couple' | Island tenant 'murdered couple' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The trial of a Spanish tenant accused of murdering an ex-pat Welsh couple has started in the Canary Islands. | The trial of a Spanish tenant accused of murdering an ex-pat Welsh couple has started in the Canary Islands. |
| Brian and Tina Johnson were bludgeoned to death with a hammer and their bodies were discovered partially buried under rocks on scrubland five days later. | Brian and Tina Johnson were bludgeoned to death with a hammer and their bodies were discovered partially buried under rocks on scrubland five days later. |
| Juan Carmelo, a tenant of the couple, who once ran a pub in Mumbles, Swansea, is accused of their murders in 2006. | Juan Carmelo, a tenant of the couple, who once ran a pub in Mumbles, Swansea, is accused of their murders in 2006. |
| At the trial, Carmelo confessed to the killing but he claims he was under the influence of drugs at the time. | |
| A week has been set aside for the trial and the prosecutor is reported to be asking for a 46-year sentence. | A week has been set aside for the trial and the prosecutor is reported to be asking for a 46-year sentence. |
| The couple had moved to the Spanish island from Mumbles in Swansea, south Wales, six-and-a-half years earlier and bought a bar with friends. | The couple had moved to the Spanish island from Mumbles in Swansea, south Wales, six-and-a-half years earlier and bought a bar with friends. |
| Local news site El Digital de Canarias reported that the prosecutor is seeking a 46-year prison sentence for Carmelo for allegedly killing the couple with a hammer when they went to his apartment to collect the rent. | |
| Hammer | Hammer |
| Official documents on the case reportedly state that on 11 July, 2006, Mr and Mrs Johnson went to the apartment in La Oliva where the suspect lived with his son. | Official documents on the case reportedly state that on 11 July, 2006, Mr and Mrs Johnson went to the apartment in La Oliva where the suspect lived with his son. |
| He is reported to have owed three months rent. | He is reported to have owed three months rent. |
| During the ensuing argument, Carmelo is alleged to have felled Mrs Johnson with a punch and fetched a hammer. | |
| Once on the floor, he is accused of repeatedly hitting her head with a hammer, with the intention of killing her. | Once on the floor, he is accused of repeatedly hitting her head with a hammer, with the intention of killing her. |
| The prosecutor's account of the murder reportedly adds that a minute later, Mr Johnson appeared at the door, looking for his wife. | The prosecutor's account of the murder reportedly adds that a minute later, Mr Johnson appeared at the door, looking for his wife. |
| Carmelo allegedly launched into another violent attack, striking a series of blows to Mr Johnson's head with the hammer and killing him too. | Carmelo allegedly launched into another violent attack, striking a series of blows to Mr Johnson's head with the hammer and killing him too. |
| Las Palmas police said: "The police investigation finished yesterday and a detainee will now appear before a judge." | Las Palmas police said: "The police investigation finished yesterday and a detainee will now appear before a judge." |
| A spokesman said the suspect had been remanded in custody before his trial. | A spokesman said the suspect had been remanded in custody before his trial. |
| Diminished responsibility | Diminished responsibility |
| According to freelance journalist Karl McLaughlin, it is believed Mr Carmelo's defence will seek acquittal on grounds of diminished responsibility, alleging that he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time. | According to freelance journalist Karl McLaughlin, it is believed Mr Carmelo's defence will seek acquittal on grounds of diminished responsibility, alleging that he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time. |
| The couple's son Sam Johnson, who still lives in the Canaries, is also bringing a private prosecution, said Mr McLaughlin. | The couple's son Sam Johnson, who still lives in the Canaries, is also bringing a private prosecution, said Mr McLaughlin. |
| He is likely to be among a number of Britons summoned as prosecution witnesses in the state prosecution in Las Palmas. | He is likely to be among a number of Britons summoned as prosecution witnesses in the state prosecution in Las Palmas. |
| Mr and Mrs Johnson ran the Park Inn in Mumbles, Swansea, in the 1980s. They moved from Wales in 1997. | Mr and Mrs Johnson ran the Park Inn in Mumbles, Swansea, in the 1980s. They moved from Wales in 1997. |