MADRID, Spain (AP):

A Spanish court has sentenced a man to nearly 40 years in prison for killing a British couple with a hammer when they came to collect house rent.

In a sentence released yesterday, the Las Palmas Provincial Court in the Canary Islands said Juan Santana, 42, would serve 39 years for the slaying of Tina and Brian Johnson on July 11, 2006.

The court heard that when Mrs Johnson, 58, went to Santana's apartment to collect three months' rent, she told him he would have to look for a new apartment. He then hit her with his hand and when she fell to the floor, he attacked and killed her with a hammer.

Brian Johnson, 60, called at the house moments later to look for his wife. According to the sentence, Santana answered the door with the hammer in hand and, "without uttering a word," struck Johnson repeatedly on the head, killing him.

The British couple cleaned and collected rent from several apartments in La Oliva district of Fuerteventura, a popular spot with tourists.

Confession

The day after the killing, Santana drove the bodies to another part of the island, where he hid them under a pile of rocks. They were discovered July 15, 2006.

During the trial last month, Santana confessed to the murders but said he did not know why he had killed the couple.

Santana was also ordered to pay 300,000 euros (US$400,0000) in indemnity to the couple's son, Sam Keith Johnson.

During the trial last month, Santana confessed to the murders but said he did not know why he had killed the couple.