Prosecutors to seek death penalty for killers

Prosecutors in Antigua say they may seek the death penalty for two men convicted yesterday of killing British honeymooners Benjamin and Catherine Mullany, as well as Jamaican shopkeeper Waneta Anderson.



Kaniel Martin and Avie Howell who shot the couple and stole their cellphones and cash still face two more murder charges.



The prosecution has reserved its decision on whether to pursue the death penalty until September 26 when the court will hold a sentencing hearing for the men.



The court heard that Martin and Howell shot all three victims with a pistol that was stolen from the home of a local auto mechanic.



In an unprecedented move in Antiguan criminal trials, the prosecution presented several recordings from a two-day covert operation in which Antiguan and British investigators bugged the defendants’ conversations.



Gunshot residue, shoeprints, DNA and ballistics linked the men to the crimes.



Meanwhile, the two are to return to court to face murder charges for the deaths of a 46-year-old man and a 24-year-old student.