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 that Howell had yesterday escaped from Her Majesty's Prison on the island with a fellow inmate who had been detained on fraud charges.
Howell, who is facing another double murder trial later this year, and Kenroy Laurie Marshall are considered armed and dangerous, a police spokesman said.
It emerged the pair could have been on the run for more than three hours before the alarm was raised by prison guards.
Mr and Mrs Mullany's family were "extremely shocked" at news of the escape 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."
Alfred David, acting superintendent of Her Majesty's Prison, said the escaped prisoners managed to cut metal ventilation bars in the maximum security cell they were sharing, allowing them to flee before climbing over a 30ft (9m) perimeter fence.
They were last seen during a patrol at 6am yesterday before guards realised they were missing on a subsequent check shortly after 9.20am, he said.
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, 24, 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.
The Mullanys' 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."
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.
Antiguan police corporal Frankie Thomas said the authorities were doing all they could to find Howell.
He said: "We have not yet had any confirmed sightings but we have had a lot of calls from the public. Antigua is a very small island and something does not stay a secret here for long.
"We remain very optimistic and confident we will find Aviemore Howell."
Corporal Thomas said anyone who offered shelter or assistance to the escaped convict would face prosecution. Detectives are considering offering a reward for information leading to Howell's capture.
Latest figures showed Her Majesty's Prison in Antigua had 361 inmates, more than double its official capacity of 150, according to the International Centre for Prison Studies.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/honeymoon-killer-flees-antigua-jail-070515830.html
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