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Imprisonment for one killer of Miss Venezuela and British expat
| Published: | 27 May at 4 PM |
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One of the killers of former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear and her ex-husband, British expat Thomas Berry, has been handed a 25-year jail term.
Twenty-five-year-old Gerardo Jose Contreras Alvarez was jailed after confessing to his part in the murder of the two, who were shot dead in front of their daughter Maya Veliz , five, who was also shot on the leg but survived. The family’s vehicle had suffered a puncture and was being put onto a tow truck at the time of the shooting.
Police chief Jose Gregorio Sierralta explained that the couple were gunned down after locking themselves inside the car in a bid to prevent their attackers stealing it while the driver of the tow truck and a co-worker hurried to a nearby police checkpoint for assistance.
Sierralta said that the Toyota Corolla was on the upper section of the tow truck and several attackers surprised them by shooting inside the car once realising they had locked themselves inside.
The jailing comes after two teenagers were sent down for four years last month for their part in the crime.
The winner of Miss Venezuela 2004 resided in the US but was on holiday in her homeland and was reported to be trying to reunite the family.
The attack took place in El Cambur, 200 miles west of the capital Caracas, as the trio were travelling from Puerto Cabello to Valencia.
Berry moved to the South American country with his parents when he was seven. He and Spear married in 2009 but divorced in 2013 although had remained close.
Twenty-five-year-old Gerardo Jose Contreras Alvarez was jailed after confessing to his part in the murder of the two, who were shot dead in front of their daughter Maya Veliz , five, who was also shot on the leg but survived. The family’s vehicle had suffered a puncture and was being put onto a tow truck at the time of the shooting.
Police chief Jose Gregorio Sierralta explained that the couple were gunned down after locking themselves inside the car in a bid to prevent their attackers stealing it while the driver of the tow truck and a co-worker hurried to a nearby police checkpoint for assistance.
Sierralta said that the Toyota Corolla was on the upper section of the tow truck and several attackers surprised them by shooting inside the car once realising they had locked themselves inside.
The jailing comes after two teenagers were sent down for four years last month for their part in the crime.
The winner of Miss Venezuela 2004 resided in the US but was on holiday in her homeland and was reported to be trying to reunite the family.
The attack took place in El Cambur, 200 miles west of the capital Caracas, as the trio were travelling from Puerto Cabello to Valencia.
Berry moved to the South American country with his parents when he was seven. He and Spear married in 2009 but divorced in 2013 although had remained close.
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