'ALICANTE KILLERS' TRAPPED BY GREED; pounds 8k ransom plot led to suspects.Byline: By MARK ELLIS Mark Ellis is the name of:
THE alleged killers of a British couple house-hunting in Spain were caught when an pounds 8,000 ransom ransom, price of redemption demanded by the captor of a person, vessel, or city. In ancient times cities frequently paid ransom to prevent their plundering by captors. The custom of ransoming was formerly sanctioned by law. plot was uncovered, a court heard yesterday. Anthony O'Malley, 42, and wife Linda, 55, were kept manacled and gagged for five days before they were murdered. They were held at a villa they had viewed to buy. Posing as the vendors, Jorge Real Sierra, 56, and brother-in-law Juan Antonio Velazquez Gonzalez, 40, allegedly killed the pair and buried them in the cellar cellar Portion of a building beneath ground level, used for utilitarian and storage purposes. It is often called a basement, especially when constructed as part of a foundation. A cellar used for food storage (e.g. . They then stole their pounds 19,000 lifesavings. Car salesman Mr O'Malley is said to have been asphyxiated as·phyx·i·ate v. as·phyx·i·at·ed, as·phyx·i·at·ing, as·phyx·i·ates v.tr. To cause asphyxia in; smother. v.intr. To undergo asphyxia; suffocate. . His shop manager wife died of shock, three judges in Alicante heard. Five months later, Real allegedly contacted a charity in Britain which helps families of missing people. He demanded pounds 8,000 to negotiate with the "kidnappers", the court was told. Spanish police were alerted and the two Venezuelan men were traced. Mr and Mrs O'Malley, of Llangollen, Denbighshire, were spending two weeks on the Costa Blanca looking to buy a retirement home. The couple, described as quiet and devoted, went to view a villa in Alcoy near Benidorm. The alleged killers are said to have posed as the sellers but in fact were only renting the house. Velazquez was later discovered driving the O'Malleys' hire car. Real matched the description of a man who had used Mr O'Malley's credit card, the prosecution claim. After his arrest, he allegedly led officers to the bodies. Police said that, in interviews, Real pinned the blame on Velazquez. But in court yesterday, he denied knowing anything about the murders. He also denied sending emails offering to help find the couple. Both men deny killing the couple. Prosecutors have asked the panel of judges - hearing the trial without a jury - to jail the men for more than 50 years each. The trial continues today. m.ellis@mgn.co.uk CAPTION(S): VICTIMS: Anthony and Linda O'Malley |
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