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Hammer murderer gets 39-year term Hammer murderer gets 39-year term
(1 day later)
A Spanish man who murdered a Welsh couple with a hammer on the island of Fuerteventura has been jailed for 39 years by a court in the Canary Islands.A Spanish man who murdered a Welsh couple with a hammer on the island of Fuerteventura has been jailed for 39 years by a court in the Canary Islands.
Brian and Tina Johnson were bludgeoned to death by their tenant Juan Carmelo Santana, 42, when they tried to collect overdue rent from him in July 2006. Brian and Tina Johnson were bludgeoned to death by tenant Juan Carmelo Santana, 42, when they tried to collect overdue rent from him in July 2006.
Santana was sentenced to 17 years for Mrs Johnson's murder and 22 for the more "brutal" killing of her husband.Santana was sentenced to 17 years for Mrs Johnson's murder and 22 for the more "brutal" killing of her husband.
He was ordered to pay their son £270,000 in a private prosecution. He was ordered to pay their son Sam £270,000 in a private prosecution.
Santana will also have to meet all legal costs of the private prosecution brought by Sam Johnson. Santana will also have to meet all legal costs of the private prosecution brought by Sam Johnson, who hired Madrid-based lawyers, and which was heard alongside the state's prosecution.
'Terrorist attack'
However, journalist Karl McLaughlin, who has reported on the trial, said there was some doubt the compensation would materialise.
Mr McLaughlin said a promise by Santana at the end of the trial to spend the rest of his life working in prison to pay Mr Johnson compensation was seen as a last-minute attempt to sway the jury.
He said: "Sam said at the time it probably would have been better if his parents had been killed in a terrorist attack in Spain because it would have been much easier to extract compensation from Spain.
"And this is the sticking point," said Mr McLaughlin. "The judge did say in her sentencing document yesterday, that the state is not liable for this compensation because Santana had no relationship whatsoever with the state."
The jury unanimously rejected Santana's defence that he was high on drink and drugs and not responsible for his actions.The jury unanimously rejected Santana's defence that he was high on drink and drugs and not responsible for his actions.
Additional distress 'Additional distress'
Judge Pilar Parejo said the longer jail term for killing Mr Johnson reflected the "particularly brutal nature" of the attack, which involved at least ten blows with the hammer. Judge Pilar Parejo said the longer jail term for killing Mr Johnson reflected the "particularly brutal nature" of the attack, which involved at least 10 blows with the hammer.
The sentence was slightly less than the 41 years sought by the state, but higher than the minimum 35-year tariff.The sentence was slightly less than the 41 years sought by the state, but higher than the minimum 35-year tariff.
Judge Parejo said Santana had disposed of the couples bodies in such a way that they remained undiscovered on scrubland for several days, causing additional distress to their son. Judge Parejo said Santana had disposed of the couple's bodies in such a way that they remained undiscovered on scrubland for several days, causing additional distress to their son.
Despite the sentence, Santana will serve only 27 years, as under Spanish law the maximum prison term is 30 years and Santana has already spent three years on remand.Despite the sentence, Santana will serve only 27 years, as under Spanish law the maximum prison term is 30 years and Santana has already spent three years on remand.
Mr and Mrs Johnson had moved from Mumbles, Swansea, where they had run the Park Inn, and bought a bar with friends in Fuerteventura.
Brian and Tina Johnson moved to the Canaries from SwanseaBrian and Tina Johnson moved to the Canaries from Swansea
They leased a flat to Santana and were going to collect overdue rent from him on the day he killed them both. Mr and Mrs Johnson had moved from Mumbles, Swansea, where they had run the Park Inn, and bought a bar with friends in Fuerteventura.
Santana admitted killing the couple, blaming a combination of drink and drugs for the unprovoked attack, and apologised to Sam Johnson during the trial for his actions. Their son has said that his mother serviced the flat where Santana lived and collected the rent, but was not his landlady.
The couple were going to collect overdue rent from Santana on the day he killed them both.
'Depression'
Santana admitted killing them, blaming a combination of drink and drugs for the unprovoked attack, and apologised to Sam Johnson during the trial for his actions.
The court in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, heard Mrs Johnson had arrived at the flat first and was hit repeatedly with a hammer by Santana. Mr Johnson arrived shortly after looking for his wife and was also fatally attacked.The court in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, heard Mrs Johnson had arrived at the flat first and was hit repeatedly with a hammer by Santana. Mr Johnson arrived shortly after looking for his wife and was also fatally attacked.
The jury heard Santana had wrapped the couple's bodies in blankets and white plastic bags, before carrying them to the boot of a car at night and dumping them in local scrubland.The jury heard Santana had wrapped the couple's bodies in blankets and white plastic bags, before carrying them to the boot of a car at night and dumping them in local scrubland.
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.
Santana had previously told the court he would accept whatever his jail term was and said he had not intended to attack or kill Mrs Johnson.Santana had previously told the court he would accept whatever his jail term was and said he had not intended to attack or kill Mrs Johnson.
The court heard he was suffering depression following the death of his wife.The court heard he was suffering depression following the death of his wife.
He also promised to spend the rest of his life working in prison to pay Sam Johnson the 300,000 euros (£270,000) compensation money.