MADRID - A SPANISH court has sentenced a man to nearly 40 years in prison for killing a British couple with a hammer when they came to collect house rent.
The Las Palmas Provincial Court in the Canary Islands says Juan Santana, 42, will serve 39 years for the murder of Tina Johnson, 58, and her husband, Brian, 60, on July 11, 2006. Samtana pleaded guilty last month.
The court heard that when Mrs. Johnson went to Santana's apartment to collect three month's rent, he attacked and killed her with a hammer.
When Brian Johnson called at the house looking for his wife, Santana also killed him.
The sentenced announced Monday says Santana must pay euro300,000 (US$400,0000) to the couple's son, Sam Keith Johnson. -- AP
