THE parents of a Malvern Wells man arrested on suspicion of murdering his former girlfriend and trying to murder her new lover have said the situation is "unbelievable".
Darren John Bridgeman, 34, was arrested by the Metro-politan Police Extradition Unit when he voluntarily walked into Worcester Police Station on Thursday (July 6).
He was detained on suspicion of the murder of Tracy Bennawit and attempted murder of Adam Strickman in Oviedo Seminole County, Florida.
Speaking exclusively to the Gazette, Mr Bridgeman's monther Jenny, also of Malvern Wells, said: "It's unbelievable and tragic what has happened. The full truth will come out eventually."
She added that she and her husband, Ronald, were unable to comment further at this stage for legal reasons.
Mr Bridgeman made a video-link appearance from prison to Bow Street Magistrates' Court, London, yesterday (Thursday)
No application for bail was made and, charged under a provisional extradition warrant under the Extradition Act 2003, he was remanded in custody until August 10 for a further videolink appearance.
Mr Bridgeman appeared at the same court on Friday, when Seth Nevine, counsel for the US Government, accused him of shooting Ms Bennawit and Mr Strickman with a semi-automatic on June 24 before fleeing the country.
Mr Bridgeman took US citizenship in 2001 after going out to the country as a student, but kept dual nationality.
He and Miss Bennawit had an 18-month relationship and ran a video business together before they split up this year.
Police in Florida said they received a phone call shortly after 1.30am from a badly-wounded Mr Strickland, who had crawled from the scene with gunshot wounds to the chest. His 14-year-old son, Caelin, had already fled into the woods at the rural location. Miss Bennawit died of gunshot wounds to the head and body.
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