British Man's Spanish Stab Death Probed

A British man has been stabbed to death near the Spanish resort of Benalmádena.

It was the first of two violent deaths in the area this week and has led to an English woman - named locally as Michelle Cornell - being arrested.

Police were called to the Altavista complex, in Torremuelle, in the early hours of Monday, where a 57-year-old man - believed to be Mrs Cornell's husband, David - was found in a pool of blood on the hallway floor.

Mrs Cornell was last night remanded in custody by a judge in Torremolinos after being arrested on suspicion of killing her husband.

The judge ordered detectives in Spain to liaise with police in the UK over claims made by the 48-year-old that she had been a victim of domestic violence while living on Wearside, near Sunderland, during her 18-year marriage.

The couple were originally from Sunderland, where it is thought Mr Cornell worked as a car salesman before moving to Spain about two years ago.

News of the shock death has only now emerged and was revealed just hours after a 40-year-old Irish man, John O'Neill, was shot dead in a local bar. The shooting occurred after a brawl in the establishment.

That incident happened about 3am on Wednesday and, when an ambulance arrived at the scene, the man was already dead.

Reports suggest Mr O'Neill - who had no criminal record - had become involved in a row at the bar earlier in the day with two men, while celebrating a friend's wedding.

One of the men, who is believed to be from Liverpool, was thrown out of the premises by the barman. He later returned with a loaded pistol and waited outside the premises.

When Mr O'Neill was leaving with his wife at around 3am, he was fatally wounded in the stomach and back by the man.

The murder is being investigated by the specialist violent crime unit of the Spanish national police in Torremolinos.

Coco's, the bar where he was gunned down, was yesterday sealed off as police investigated how the tragedy unfolded. Police are continuing their search for the gunman and are said to be following a definite line of inquiry.

It is not believed the killing is linked to recent gangland-style attacks in the area.

Mr O'Neill is survived by his parents, two siblings, two children and his partner, who are being given consular assistance by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Speculation that the murder was in connection with another fatal shooting in Mijas recently has now been dismissed.

In June, police were hunting an Irishman after a British national was gunned down outside a different bar in Spain.

Daniel Smith, 24, died in a hail of bullets as he sipped a drink on a terrace on the Costa del Sol.

The gunman opened fire from a high-powered motorbike in a drive-by murder, which forced fellow drinkers to dive for cover as Mr Smith was shot outside The Lounge bar in Riviera del Sol, near Mijas.

The victim, who was a fugitive, wanted in the UK, died at the scene after being shot at least three times in the head.

That killing also followed a row with the suspect said to have left the bar after the argument and then returned armed, to kill the man he had confronted.

See: Irishman Shot Dead In Spain

(BMcC/KMcA)