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Man admits island hammer killings Man admits island hammer killings
(about 3 hours later)
A tenant has admitted killing a Welsh couple after they tried to collect overdue rent from him at a flat in the Canary Islands in 2006.A tenant has admitted killing a Welsh couple after they tried to collect overdue rent from him at a flat in the Canary Islands in 2006.
Brian and Tina Johnson were bludgeoned to death with a hammer on Fuerteventura and their bodies partially buried.Brian and Tina Johnson were bludgeoned to death with a hammer on Fuerteventura and their bodies partially buried.
Juan Carmelo Santana faces murder charges but claims he was under the influence of cocaine, magic mushrooms and alcohol during the attacks.Juan Carmelo Santana faces murder charges but claims he was under the influence of cocaine, magic mushrooms and alcohol during the attacks.
He said he was "totally out of it" and did not understand why he had done it.He said he was "totally out of it" and did not understand why he had done it.
Santana told the opening of his trial in Las Palmas: "I know what I have done, I am totally guilty and I can only say sorry to the family."Santana told the opening of his trial in Las Palmas: "I know what I have done, I am totally guilty and I can only say sorry to the family."
Even now I can't understand what drove me to do what I did - I was totally out of it Juan Carmelo SantanaEven now I can't understand what drove me to do what I did - I was totally out of it Juan Carmelo Santana
He admitted he had wrapped the couple's bodies in blankets and white plastic bags, before carrying them to the boot of his car late at night to drive them to local scrubland, where he hid them under a pile of rocks.He admitted he had wrapped the couple's bodies in blankets and white plastic bags, before carrying them to the boot of his car late at night to drive them to local scrubland, where he hid them under a pile of rocks.
The bodies of Mr Johnson, 59, and his 57-year-old wife were discovered four days later by a huntsman out exercising his dogs.The bodies of Mr Johnson, 59, and his 57-year-old wife were discovered four days later by a huntsman out exercising his dogs.
Under cross-examination Santana said he had taken a mix of cocaine, magic mushrooms and alcohol, which he blamed for triggering the unprovoked attack.Under cross-examination Santana said he had taken a mix of cocaine, magic mushrooms and alcohol, which he blamed for triggering the unprovoked attack.
"Even now I can't understand what drove me to do what I did - I was totally out of it," he told the jury in the packed courthouse in Las Palmas."Even now I can't understand what drove me to do what I did - I was totally out of it," he told the jury in the packed courthouse in Las Palmas.
"I was depressed around that time because someone had stolen the flowers from my wife's grave on the second anniversary of her death."I was depressed around that time because someone had stolen the flowers from my wife's grave on the second anniversary of her death.
"I remember vaguely Mrs Johnson said something to me as she was walking out of the apartment and I just went berserk and punched her."I remember vaguely Mrs Johnson said something to me as she was walking out of the apartment and I just went berserk and punched her.
Juan Carmelo Santana claims he was under the influence of drugs
Santana added: "The next thing I knew I was on top of her hitting her with a hammer. I don't know where I got it from. When the man (Mr Johnson) came a few minutes later I hit him as well but I didn't even know who he was."Santana added: "The next thing I knew I was on top of her hitting her with a hammer. I don't know where I got it from. When the man (Mr Johnson) came a few minutes later I hit him as well but I didn't even know who he was."
He told the jury he had "closed Tina's eyes" before wrapping the bodies in the bags and hiding them under a bed.He told the jury he had "closed Tina's eyes" before wrapping the bodies in the bags and hiding them under a bed.
He then cleaned the apartment thoroughly and then "went out for a few beers with a friend" to a local bar, returning home to collect his son to go for dinner.He then cleaned the apartment thoroughly and then "went out for a few beers with a friend" to a local bar, returning home to collect his son to go for dinner.
"I wanted to pluck up courage to tell my son what had happened but couldn't bring myself to do it," he said."I wanted to pluck up courage to tell my son what had happened but couldn't bring myself to do it," he said.
Completely sane
The drinking spree continued back in the apartment with two more friends but Santana denied they knew anything about the killings or that they had helped him carry the bodies to the car outside.The drinking spree continued back in the apartment with two more friends but Santana denied they knew anything about the killings or that they had helped him carry the bodies to the car outside.
"I didn't need help because I was used to carrying heavy weights on the building site where I worked," he said."I didn't need help because I was used to carrying heavy weights on the building site where I worked," he said.
Santana's lawyer Gonzalo Miranda said the combination of intoxicating substances was "as lethal and brutal as his client's assault on the Johnsons".Santana's lawyer Gonzalo Miranda said the combination of intoxicating substances was "as lethal and brutal as his client's assault on the Johnsons".
He insisted that "no-one would carry out an act like this unless they were not in control of themselves".He insisted that "no-one would carry out an act like this unless they were not in control of themselves".
The couple's bodies were found buried under stones after a search The couple were landlords of a pub in Mumbles before emigrating
The state prosecution is seeking a 46-year term for Santana - 23 years for each murder - to reflect the particularly vicious nature of the hammer attacks, which it says caused "deliberate and inhumane suffering to the two victims".The state prosecution is seeking a 46-year term for Santana - 23 years for each murder - to reflect the particularly vicious nature of the hammer attacks, which it says caused "deliberate and inhumane suffering to the two victims".
The parallel criminal prosecution brought by the couple's son is demanding the maximum tariff of 25 years for each murder, along with 300,000 euros in compensation.The parallel criminal prosecution brought by the couple's son is demanding the maximum tariff of 25 years for each murder, along with 300,000 euros in compensation.
Prosecutor Federico Andreu, disputing a defence claim for diminished responsibility, said Santana could remember in great detail his movements immediately before and after the attacks.Prosecutor Federico Andreu, disputing a defence claim for diminished responsibility, said Santana could remember in great detail his movements immediately before and after the attacks.
Psychiatric reports had confirmed that the defendant was completely sane and was not suffering from mental illness.Psychiatric reports had confirmed that the defendant was completely sane and was not suffering from mental illness.
It is alleged Santana parked the couple's car near a harbour to make it appear they had taken a ferry to Lanzarote.It is alleged Santana parked the couple's car near a harbour to make it appear they had taken a ferry to Lanzarote.
The Johnsons had moved to the Spanish island from Mumbles in Swansea, six-and-a-half years earlier and bought a bar with friends.The Johnsons had moved to the Spanish island from Mumbles in Swansea, six-and-a-half years earlier and bought a bar with friends.
Official documents on the case reportedly state that on 11 July 2006, Mr and Mrs Johnson went to the apartment in La Oliva where Santana 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 Santana lived with his son.
He is reported to have owed three months' rent.He is reported to have owed three months' rent.
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.