Tenerife Villa Holidays

Businessman's killer convicted

A TEENAGER from Chile who stabbed a Yorkshire businessman to death during a robbery in the Canary Islands has been convicted of homicide.

The youth was only 14 when he knifed 71-year-old Peter Cockshutt to death at his luxury villa at Costa del Silencio, on the southern tip of Tenerife, in February last year.

Now 16, the teenager, who was identified under Spain’s strict youth protection laws only by initials, was ordered by a juvenile court in Santa Cruz, the capital of the holiday island, to be held in custody at a remand home for seven years and then to spend another five years on probation.

He was also ordered to pay his victim’s family 135,000 euros – nearly £124,000 – in compensation after being convicted of homicide, robbery with violence and burglary.

The boy had broken into the villa with another youth from Uruguay while Mr Cockshutt was eating dinner at a nearby restaurant. He grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed Mr Cockshutt, a retired electrician from Brandesburton, East Yorkshire, when he came home unexpectedly.

His accomplice, also identified only by initials, who was 16 at the time, was convicted of robbery with force from an occupied residence. He was ordered to spend three years in custody and 26 months under “supervised liberty”.

Last month a Spanish court heard the retired businessman had been the victim of a bungled burglary.

Evidence showed they held him down before stabbing him with a knife and a screwdriver, twice in the chest and once in the leg.

They were charged with Mr Cockshutt’s murder just days after the robbery, but although they admitted killing him they were convicted of murder after a two-day trial at Palacia de Justicia in Santa Cruz.

The hearing was the first time Mr Cockshutt’s family had faced his killers.

Speaking at the time, his wife Patricia said she could not forgive them.

“We didn’t see them show any remorse during the trial,” she said. “It’s hard to describe how I feel. It seemed like it had all just been a story until I saw those who killed Peter.

I feel very angry and there is no way I can forgive them, even more so now.

Holiday Villas in Tenerife | Villa Holidays

Planning to stay in holiday villas in Tenerife ? Look no further! We have more than fifty different Tenerife villas available for rent, with options from three bedrooms on up to six. Our villa rentals are comfortable and luxurious, and many of them come with swimming pools.

Tenerife in the Canary Islands is a very popular tourist location because of its nearly year-round, spring like weather. Most days are mild, but unexpected rainfalls can occur. If you travel to the north of the island, you will want to take a jacket and an umbrella as it rains more in north.

Here are some of the many things you will want to see while you are visiting Tenerife.

The Black Pyramids in The Pirámides de Güímar Ethnographic Park are a must-see for tourists. These pyramids are of unknown origin, though many believe they were built by farmers, and still others think they are of religious significance. The park is in the town of Güímar.

For art enthusiasts and historians, a visit to La Recova is important. This culture centre offers art exhibitions year round. You may also want to visit the City Library and Fine Arts Museum.

You should also visit the capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz. Here you will find the park, Garcia Sanabria, which houses many exotic trees from around the world. Tenerife also offers exotic beaches, local festivals and carnivals, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife.

Don’t forget to make your villa rentals early so that you can book the one you really want.

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