Three British soldiers - Allan Ford, Justin Fowler, and Geoffrey Pernell - were found guilty of the manslaughter of Danish tour guide Louise Jensen in Cyprus.
The soldiers received life sentences for a crime committed in September 1994, marking a significant legal resolution in an international criminal case.
Ford, Fowler, and Pernell were convicted of abduction, rape, and murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. The judges described the crime as "inhumane when planned, and vulgar when exercised". In court the soldiers' only explanation was that they "wanted a woman".
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Louise Jensen was born on 19 March 1971. She grew up in the town of Hirtshals, Denmark, together with her parents and her younger brother. After college, Jensen was working as a tour guide in Cyprus for the Danish travel agency Star Tours.
Allan Ford, nicknamed "the Cube", was born in 1968. He is from Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham. Ford was a member of The First Battalion of The Royal Green Jackets.
Ford's ex-wife has told that he had threatened her with a razor and screwdriver if she betrayed him. Nevertheless, he had cheated on her twice and taunted her about his other women. After they split, Ford told her if he caught her with a man, he would slash her face. His ex-wife has described him as a "psycho".
A month prior to the killing Ford was accused of having smashed a beer glass on the head of a tourist, injuring him seriously.
Justin Fowler, nicknamed "Binny", was born in 1968. He is from Constantine in Falmouth, Cornwall. Fowler was a member of the 1st Battalion, Royal Green Jackets. Fowler was considered to be a poor soldier, with a record that included several disciplinary matters and fighting.
Fowler's wife petitioned for divorce when she learned of the murder allegation.
Geoffrey Pernell was born in 1971. He is from Tividale, Sandwell, in the West Midlands. Pernell was a member of The First Battalion of The Royal Green Jackets.
Pernell was accused of having attacked a woman when he was stationed on the Falkland Islands.
On the night of 16 September 1994, Jensen and her Cypriot boyfriend, Michalis Vassiliades, were riding a motorbike when they were hit by a vehicle driven by the drunk soldiers Ford, Fowler, and Pernell. Having beaten Jensen's boyfriend to the ground, Pernell forced Jensen into the vehicle, and the soldiers abducted her. She was then repeatedly raped and repeatedly beaten with a spade, leading to her death. Finally she was buried in a shallow grave.
Jensen's body was found several days later. Due to the soldiers' abuse and exposure to the elements, the body was in such a condition that only Jensen's silver ring identified her.