A Slovakian woman has been found guilty of the murder of British millionaire Andrew Bush, whom she shot three times at his home on the Costa del Sol in April 2014.
Mayka Kukucova, 26, has been on trial at the Ciudad de la Justicia in the Spanish city of Málaga accused of killing Bush, her ex-boyfriend.
She said she had “never meant to hurt” the former jewellery store owner and broke down in tears when photographs of his body were shown in court.
The court heard that there had been a violent struggle moments before Bush’s death, after he had returned home unexpectedly from a trip to the UK while Kukucova was in the house collecting her possessions. She had allegedly been staying in the house for at least two days.
Kukucova said shots were fired during the fight but had denied murder.
Bush, 48, was previously married to former BBC Bristol presenter Sam Mason – mother of his daughter Ellie, 21.
He met Kukucova, a former model, when she worked in his shop and the pair were together for two and a half years, she told the court. The relationship broke down about six months before Bush was killed.
Bush was known for having a keen interest in cars, and it was in his Hummer that Kukucova is reported to have made a getaway on the night he died. Days later she handed herself in to Slovakian authorities and was detained before being extradited to Spain.
Kukucova did not enter a formal plea, and prosecutors are seeking a 25-year prison sentence.
Bush’s sister, Rachel, who gave evidence during the trial, said: “Unless someone has had someone close to them be murdered, they cannot understand how it feels. It was very hard to see Kukucova there in court, telling those lies.”
Making a tearful tribute to her father, Ellie Mason-Bush told the court: “He was my only parent growing up. He was the only person that I had.”
She said that even though he and Kukucova had split up, “he was still supporting her and still wanted to help her”.
Maria Korotaeva, Bush’s girlfriend at the time, was sitting in the Hummer waiting for her partner as he was being killed.
Giving her account of the night, she told the court: “I never imagined what was happening. Andy had never said anything bad about her, just that he couldn’t be with her anymore.”
On Monday, she posted a picture of herself with Rachel and Ellie on Instagram with the caption: “Me, Ellie and Rachel Bush yesterday night in Malaga. We will do anything in our power to get justice.”
MADRID — A Spanish jury has found a Slovakian model guilty of murdering her millionaire ex-boyfriend by shooting the Briton twice in the head at his home near Marbella on the Costa del Sol two years ago.
The verdict against 26-year-old Maria Kukucova was handed down Friday after a trial this week in the southern city of Malaga.
Kukucova told the court she “never meant to hurt” Andrew Bush, saying that the former jewelry store owner died during a violent struggle.
Prosecutors say Kukucova shot 48-year-old Bush twice in the head and once in the shoulder on April 5, 2014.