Miss Venezuela Monica Spear Death: Two Teens Sentenced to Prison in Deaths of Beauty Queen & Ex-Husband
Two teenagers were sentenced to four years in prison for their role in the killing of former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear and her partner last year.
A Venezuelan court issued the ruling after the minors -- aged 15 and 17 -- admitted to taking part in the attack that killed Monica Spear, a former Miss Venezuela winner and a popular telenovela actress, and her Irish ex-husband, Thomas Berry. The couple's 5-year-old daughter was also wounded during the armed robbery back in January 2014.
According to the director of the country's investigative police, Jose Gregorio Sierralta, Spear, 29, and Berry, 39, were slain after their car broke down late one night on a roadside near Puerto Cabello. They were headed to Caracas when their car hit "a sharp object that had been placed on the highway," Sierralta told The Associated Press. They were then shot by assailants after they resisted a robbery. He added that the attack occurred after the car had been lifted onto a tow truck, but when they spotted the assailants coming, the family locked themselves in their car.
The couple's daughter survived with a light leg wound. Spear shielded the young girl.
Officials arrested ten people for the crime, including the two minors. Three of the suspects -- aged 18, 19 and 21 -- pleaded guilty and were sentenced last September to 24 to 26 years behind bars, reports AFP.
In addition to taking part in the murders, prosecutors said the 17-year-old suspect committed aggravated robbery. Meanwhile, the 15-year-old suspect was charged with resisting arrest, theft and conspiracy. Both teens were also sentenced to six months' probation. Five remaining suspects are currently on trial.
After becoming Miss Venezuela in 2004, Spears went on to represent Venezuela at Miss Universe 2005 in Bangkok, and came in as the fourth runner-up. The telenovela star appeared in a number of Spanish language soap operas, including "Pasion Prohibida" and Telemundo's "Flor Salvaje."
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