- Antigua honeymoon murders
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The Antigua honeymoon murders refers to the murder of Ben Mullany, (1977–2008), and Catherine Mullany, (1977–2008), two newlywed health professionals (a student physiotherapist and doctor) who were murdered during their honeymoon in Antigua, and its aftereffects. Their murders have sparked a diplomatic row between Antigua and the United Kingdom and have resulted in sweeping legislative reform in Antigua.
Contents
Background
Ben Mullany was training to become a physiotherapist and was in his third year at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol. Catherine Mullany was a paediatrician training to be a general practitioner. On July 12, 2008, Ben and Catherine married at St John the Evangelist Church in Cilybebyll. Two days after the marriage, the couple checked into Antigua’s Cocos Hotel on July 14.
The night before they were to return home to Wales, only two weeks after their wedding, the couple were fatally shot in their cottage in what was thought to be a botched robbery attempt. Catherine was shot in the head and died instantly. Ben suffered a gunshot wound to the neck. Though he was able to signal and murmur to the paramedics, on the way to the hospital he lapsed into a coma. Ben's parents, who flew to Antigua with Catherine's parents, decided to fly him to Wales via air ambulance in a last-ditch attempt to save his life. Ben was taken to Morriston Hospital, Swansea where his murdered wife, Catherine, worked.
On 3 August 2008, exactly one week after his wife died, following brain stem testing, Ben Mullany died. His life support machines were turned off after doctors told his parents that there was no chance of recovery. The couple were buried together in Wales.[1] Their funeral was held at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff on 10 September 2008. Around 900 people attended including Sarah, Duchess of York.
In July 2011, Kaniel Martin and Avie Howell were found guilty of their murders and that of a shopkeeper, Woneta Anderson.[2]
Effects
Sweeping legislative reforms in Antigua
Antigua Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, in an attempt to save the island's tourism, is implementing measures in order to increase Antigua's police power including stop-and-search powers for the police, systematic searches of pockets "within various communities" for guns and drugs, new surveillance cameras and wire-tapping.[3] Spencer has indicated that he is in the process of introducing legislative actions that will make the actions legal and permanent.[3]
Additional changes have been made regarding the death penalty, gun trafficking, and assaults with a weapon. "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 for anyone who uses a gun or knife in a crime which results in death or serious injury."[4] The new law also imposes a requirement for judges to hand down a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and enables judges to ask for a life sentence if need be in cases involving assault with a weapon.[4] Under current law, the death penalty is applied only in murder cases. This legislation will apply it to any crime involving a knife/gun and to gun trafficking.[4] In addition, the previous law required that there be a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison for assault with a weapon.[4]
Pending diplomatic row
The British government faces a diplomatic row with Antigua over the shooting of the honeymoon couple after demanding that anyone convicted of the crime will not face the death penalty.[5] The British demand to its former colony is understood to have vexed Antigua’s leadership as Western interference in Antigua’s police and justice systems is a highly contentious issue in the country.[5] In 2000, the two countries clashed diplomatically after a similar crime in which the UK tried to stop the execution of Steadroy McDougal for the murder of a Scottish woman and her boyfriend.[5] McDougal was eventually reprieved in August 2002.[6]
Prime Minister Spencer has also blamed Britain and the United States for the escalating violence in his country, saying that over 280 criminals had been deported to Antigua over the last decade, many of whom had few local ties.[3] "To any small island developing state, this figure is astronomically high.[3] In ours, with its small population, these criminal deportees, with skills developed and nurtured in the US and the UK, are impacting tremendously on our society."[3] These remarks have generated great controversy.[3]
The Mullany Fund
On the 5th September 2008, the family and friends of Ben and Cath Mullany launched a memorial fund that will raise money to support UK students wishing to study medicine or physiotherapy.[7] The Duchess of York is patron of the charity which is also supported by Sir Vivian Richards.
References
- ^ Savill, Richard (2008-08-14). "Antigua murders: Honeymoon couple buried at church where they married". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2553129/Antigua-murders-Honeymoon-couple-buried-at-church-where-they-married.html. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
- ^ "Antigua honeymoon murders: two men found guilty". Irish Independent. 2011-07-28. http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/antigua-honeymoon-murders-two-men-found-guilty-2833348.html. Retrieved 2011-07-28.
- ^ a b c d e f Clark, Andrew (2008-07-31). "Antiguan PM says Britain and US must share blame for rise in violent crime". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/31/internationalcrime.ukcrime. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ^ a b c d "Death penalty after couple murder". BBC. 2008-08-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7556016.stm. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ a b c Leonard, Tom (2008-08-04). "Antigua murder: British government faces row over death penalty for shooting". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/antiguaandbarbuda/2491945/Antigua-murder-British-government-faces-row-over-death-penalty-for-honeymoon-shooting.html. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ^ Brendan McGinty (25 August 2002). "PARADISE MURDERER ESCAPES NOOSE; Scot Louise's killer reprieved on Death Row.". Scottish Daily Record. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/PARADISE+MURDERER+ESCAPES+NOOSE%3B+Scot+Louise%27s+killer+reprieved+on...-a090744086. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
- ^ "Memorial fund for Antigua couple". BBC. 2008-09-05. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7599807.stm. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
External links
Categories:- 2008 in Antigua and Barbuda
- British people murdered abroad
- Deaths by firearm in Antigua and Barbuda
- People murdered in Antigua and Barbuda
- Murder in 2008
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