Model admits taking vehicle of British millionaire shot dead
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Tuesday, May 24, 2016 09:27 AM EDT | Updated: Tuesday, May 24, 2016 11:01 AM EDT
Police officers escort a Slovakian model Mayka Marica Kukucova (R) from court in Trencin, April 10, 2014. Kukucova was arrested on Tuesday in the village of Nova Bosaca, Slovakia following the death of British millionaire Andrew Bush. Bush was found shot dead early on Saturday at his property near Estepona, Spain. Kukucova is the prime suspect in the case and went to police voluntarily, according to reports. She was arrested on suspicion of consumed intentional homicide and is expected to be extradited to Spain. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa
MADRID -- A Slovakian model on trial in the fatal shooting of her millionaire British ex-boyfriend testified Tuesday she fled the scene in his vehicle because she was scared after he threatened her and was shot in a struggle over a handgun.
Maria Kukucova said she took Andrew Bush's Hummer but didn't know he was dead.
Prosecutors say Kukucova shot Bush, 48, twice in the head and once in the shoulder April 5, 2014, at his home in the southern Spanish beach resort of Estepona and are seeking to have her imprisoned for 20 years.
The 26-year-old Kukucova testified in the Malaga courtroom a day earlier that the gun "just went off" and she didn't know how many shots were fired after going temporarily deaf following the first blast. She said in testimony on Monday that Bush had pulled the gun on her and that it went off while they struggled.
Kukucova broke down in tears Tuesday and was escorted out of the courtroom after images of Bush's body were shown.
Forensics experts said in court that one of the shots to Bush's head killed him and that suicide was ruled out.
A police officer testified Bush's body was found face down near the home's front door with a handgun in his left hand.
