Jun 20, 2014 20:05 By Don Mackay, Adam Aspinall

Ben and Catherine Mullany had been married for barely a fortnight when they were murdered on the holiday island

Avie Howell and accomplice Kaniel Martin killed Ben and Catherine Mullany in a botched robbery

A killer who murdered a pair of British newlyweds has been shot during a dramatic shootout after he had broken out of prison.

Gunman Avie Howell, 24, who murdered Ben and Catherine Mullany, was caught after a manhunt on the Caribbean island of Antigua today.

News of the capture was welcomed by the families of the couple.

Ben’s mother Marilyn said: “We are very relieved that he was caught. We were very concerned and upset when we heard he had escaped.

“Our fear was that he might leave the island and not only evade justice, but end up hurting someone else.”

The cottage in Antigua where Ben and Catherine Mullany couple stayed (Pic: PA)The cottage in Antigua where Ben and Catherine Mullany couple stayed

Howell escaped yesterday from the island’s crumbling prison in the town of St John’s along with cellmate Kenroy Laurie Marshall who was in custody on fraud charges.

A major manhunt was launched after Howell managed to cut through a wire face before scaling a 30ft wall.

Antiguan police said the second man – Kenroy Marshall – remains at large.

A recent report on security at the antiquated jail revealed it needed extensive repairs which “made it easy for inmates to escape. Howell was serving a life sentence alongside accomlice Kaniel Martin, 27, for the brutal murder of newlyweds Ben and Catherine Mullany who were in Antigua on honeymoon in 2008.

The Welsh couple were both fatally shot in the head during a dawn raid at their beach-side hotel chalet on the island.

They had only been married a little over a fortnight. Hospital doctor Mrs Mullany died instantly.

Antigua map – Ben and Catherine Mullany murdersAntigua map

Her trainee physiotherapist husband, who was also 31, was flown home to Swansea in a coma.

Despite the best efforts of his wife’s medical colleagues he died a week after the shooting.

Howell and Martin were later given life prison terms, but escaped the death penalty.

The pair, who are still yet to stand trial for two other alleged murders, were detained on the island’s sole prison near St Johns.

Corporal Frankie Thomas, of The Royal Police Force of Antigua & Barbuda, said Howell was captured in the countryside by police.

He said: “I can confirm Avie Howell has been caught. He was shot following a confrontation with officers.

“I do not know the extent of his injuries at this stage, but he has been taken to hospital.

“In the meantime, we would like to thank the public and the media for assisting us in locating Howell.”

For more on this story go to:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/ben-catherin-mullany-murder-killer-3734127#ixzz35HcWVfXF

See Related story below (before news of shot and capture)

Ben and Catherine Mullany Caribbean shooting deaths: Family’s horror ss murderer Avie Howell escapes

From The Huffington Post UK/PA

The family of a British couple murdered on their Caribbean honeymoon are said to be “extremely shocked” after one of their killers escaped from prison.

Newlyweds Ben and Catherine Mullany, from South Wales, had been married for little over a fortnight when they were shot in their hotel room on the holiday island of Antigua in 2008.

Local men Avie Howell and Kaniel Martin were later convicted of the murders and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Police in Antigua confirmed today [20] that Howell had escaped from Her Majesty’s Prison on the island along with a fellow inmate who had been detained on fraud charges.

Mr and Mrs Mullany’s family were “extremely shocked” at the news and concerned that Howell might flee the island, a source said.

They said: “You would have thought they would have kept him under lock and key.”

Counsellor Jamal Wright, based at St John’s police station in Antigua, said: “Avie Howell escaped from Her Majesty’s Prison at about 6am on Thursday along with Kenroy Laurie Marshall.

“Apparently they used a sharp implement to cut out a portion of mesh and jumped over the northern prison wall, which is about 30ft (9m) high.”

Sergeant Raymond Finley said he believed that Howell, who is in his 20s, was still on the island and local police and defence forces were searching for him.

“I understand the victims’ families will be very concerned,” he said.

Howell and Martin burst into Mr and Mrs Mullany’s chalet at the Cocos Hotel in a dawn raid in July 2008.

The 31-year-olds, who lived in Rhos, near Pontardawe, were both shot in the head while their killers made off with their mobile phones, a cheap digital camera and a handful of cash.

Qualified doctor Mrs Mullany died instantly. Her physiotherapy student husband – who was studying for his degree at the University of West England in Bristol – was flown home on a life-support machine.

Despite the best efforts of his wife’s colleagues at Morriston Hospital in Swansea, the former South Yorkshire Police officer died a week after the shooting.

Five weeks after witnessing their wedding at St John The Evangelist Church in Cilybebyll, their parents were attending the couple’s funeral.

Three years to the day after the deaths, Howell and Martin were found guilty of murdering the honeymoon couple as well as shooting 43-year-old local shopkeeper Woneta Anderson.

The killers were both jailed for life.

Last year Howell was handed an additional four-year sentence for a burglary he carried out just weeks before murdering Mr and Mrs Mullany.

Neath MP Peter Hain said: “It is vital that Howell is hunted down urgently and brought back into jail. He took part in a gruesome murder of a lovely young couple who had so much to give to their local community and also had a zest for life.

“It is unthinkable that Howell is at large.”

IMAGES:

Avie Howell 20, (left) and Kaniel Martin, 23, who murdered honeymooners Ben and Catherine Mullany

The Mullany’s wedding day

For more on this story go to: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/06/20/ben-catherine-caribbean-shooting-death-avie-howell-escape_n_5514386.html

See today’s iNews Briefs story: “Antigua police launch manhunt for two prisoners including convicted murderer”