"Is it Safe to Go Back in the Ocean?" More Vacation Cover-Ups

The shooting of two British newlyweds in Antigua may be linked to another murder on the Caribbean island less than two months ago, its police chief said yesterday.

Police commissioner Gary Nelson said Catherine and Benjamin Mullany's case was similar to a previous one, and the island's police force was being hampered by a "code of silence".

Mr Nelson, who was brought in from Canada to transform the force earlier this year, was speaking as Mr Mullany was being flown back to the UK on board an air ambulance.

It was expected to land at Cardiff Airport in the early hours of this morning. The body of his new wife - who died in the attack at the Cocos Hotel last Sunday morning - and the couple's parents are also understood to be flying home on a different flight.

Mr Nelson said he believed the murder of Dr Mullany and the shooting of her husband may be linked to another murder which happened around two months ago in a house in the Antiguan capital of St John's.

It also appeared to be a robbery and the young male victim was shot in the back of his head, he said.

Mr Nelson also confirmed that Mr Mullany, who is fighting for his life amid fears he is brain dead, was shot with a handgun in the back of his head where the bullet lodged and remains.

His wife was shot once in her temple, and died instantly. She had no other injuries.

He agreed that it was "probably not the first time" the killer or killers had struck, and said he believed it was "linked to previous homicides".

"There's something wrong with this person," he said.

Asked if he was confident about catching the killer, he said: "As long as I'm here on this island, we'll be investigating."

Mr Nelson also revealed Antigua has only one trained forensics officer and said he was waiting to hear from the UK whether they would be prepared to send a team to re-examine the murder scene. If not, he said he had "good relations" with the FBI and would ask them to help.

He agreed the murder had exposed the weakness of the force, which has no computers, no crime database and a 911 system which "sometimes doesn't work".

Police have questioned 31 people and taken 10 statements. Four people remain in custody and around a dozen officers are working on the case.

Dr Mullany, a GP from Pontardawe, south Wales, and Mr Mullany, from Ystalyfera in the Swansea valley, set off on their honeymoon after marrying on July 12.

At least one gunman burst into their cottage as they slept on their last day.