Men jailed for more than 20 years for beauty queen murder

Three men who confessed to killing a former Venezuelan beauty queen and her husband have each been sentenced to at least 24 years in jail.

Monica Spear, 29, and her husband Thomas Berry were shot dead in January, in front of their 5-year-old daughter during a road-side robbery in Venezuela.

The couple, who lived in the US, had been holidaying in the soap actress’ home country when their car broke down on their journey to the country’s capital, Caracas.

The family had stayed within their car awaiting roadside assistance, but were ambushed by a group who shot through the vehicle, instantly killing the 2004 Miss Venezuela and her husband.

Their five-year-old daughter Maya suffered a leg injury in the attack.

Three men pleaded guilty to the murders.

Jean Carlos Colina, 19, was given a 26 year sentence, while Jose Ferreira Herra, 18, and Nelfrend Jimenez Alvarez, 21, were jailed for 24 years.

The murders prompted demonstrations against the country’s high crime rate.

UN figures show that Venezuela has the second-highest peacetime murder rate in the world, after Honduras.

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has promised to combat crime within the country, last week announcing the government will invest $47 million for the implementation of a nationwide disarmament plan.