man accused of killing an elderly German couple who were found stabbed to death at their home in Moraira three years ago admitted his guilt in court on Wednesday and accepted a term of 31 years behind bars.

The 34 year old man had once worked for the couple as a gardener and arrived at their home on the morning of June 16 2008, hiding there in waiting until they returned to the property. He attacked the couple with a knife when they refused his demands for money, dragged them both inside the house and then left wearing the husband’s clothes. The prosecution service indicates that he dumped his own bloodstained clothes in a rubbish container.

EFE reports that he took with him their credit cards, 250 € in cash and the keys to their car. He returned to collect the car that evening and dumped it in another location, to make it seem as if the victims had gone away. More than 6,000 € were later withdrawn on the credit cards.

The accused’s lawyer told journalists on Wednesday that her client regrets what he did and accepts that he must pay for the crime.