Mayka Kukucova: Slovakian model who murdered British millionaire jailed for 15 years

The 26-year-old claimed she had 'never meant to hurt' former gold dealer Andrew Bush

Mayka Marica Kukucova appears in court in Malaga, Spain, where she is accused of killing her former partner, British millionaire Andrew Bush (PA)

A Slovakian model who shot her British millionaire ex-boyfriend has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after she was found guilty of his murder by a Spanish court.

Mayka Kukucova was sentenced to 15 years for murder and another six months for breaking into her ex-boyfriend's house in Marbella, where the murder took place.

The 26-year-old claimed she had "never meant to hurt" former gold dealer Andrew Bush, saying he had died during a violent struggle.

Prosecutors said Kukucova shot the 48-year-old twice in the head and once in the shoulder.

British millionaire businessman Andrew Bush and Mayka Marica Kukucova

The court also ordered her to pay €200,000 (£152,500) to the victim's daughter and sister, as well as court costs.

Last Friday, Kukucova told the Ciudad de la Justica court in Malaga that Bush had threatened her with a gun.

"The gun just went off. I only wanted to break free from his grasp," she said.

The jury heard how the businessman had returned unexpectedly early from the UK to his home with his new girlfriend, Maria Korotaeva, to find Kukucova in his Costa del Sol home. Mr Bush and Kukucova had broken up about a month before the killing after a relationship of more than two years.

Kukucova said she was simply collecting her belongings but prosecutors argued she had "an unmistakable desire to end Andrew Bush's life". When he saw Kukucova was there, Mr Bush told Korotaeva to go outside.

In a seven-page report filed when charges were brought against her in December, prosecutor José Antonio Nieblas said: "The accused...at a certain point in a row they were having, made a sudden and unexpected use of the .38 special-model Amadeo Rossi revolver that she was carrying.

"She shot Andrew Bush three times, the first shot hitting in the arm and the other two in the head.

"Andrew Bush had no chance to react or to defend himself."

Slovakian model Mayka Marica Kukucova is escorted by the police from the Regional Court in Trencin, Slovakia (EPA)

The prosecutors said she placed the revolver in Mr Bush's had before telling Ms Korataeva to get out of Mr Bush's Hummer and using the car to flee the scene.

She fled to Slovakia, but turned herself in to police four days after the killing. She was extradited to Spain a month later.

Additional reporting by Associated Press