Wedding photographer shot dead as couple pose with guns

A wedding photographer has been accidentally shot dead after he asked the bride and groom to pose with guns, the Daily Mail has reported.

Calogero Scimea, aged 45, was hired to document the marriage of teenage sweethearts Valentina Anitra, 22, and Ignazio Licodia, 25.

Reports reveal Scimea suggested the couple pose with guns in a series of photographs before they entered their local church in Altofonte, near Palermo, Italy.

The gun was said to have accidentally gone off, fatally shooting Scimea in the head, horrifying the bride and groom.

Palermo police spokesman Colonel Teo Luzi said, "From what we have been able to establish the photographer had asked the parents of the bride and groom if they had any guns to use as props in a picture and one went off hitting him in the head killing him.

"He was only there as a favour for the wedding photographer who had been originally been booked but had to pull out as he was ill. The bride and groom were distraught and the wedding was immediately cancelled.

"The prosecutor is looking at bringing charges against the groom's parents as this is where the death took place but we need to examine the ballistics report first as the bride's parents also brought a weapon."

The couple and parents of the bride and groom are being questioned about the incident.

Ballistics experts believe the weapon to be a hunting rifle, used for shooting mainly wild boar in the surrounding countryside.

All firearms are said to be legally held.

"What we are trying to establish is if the gun went off as it was being handled by the photographer, or if it went off as it was handed to him," said Luzi.

"But no one is being very talkative."

In southern Italy and especially Sicily it is common for guns to be fired at family events or festivals as part of the celebrations.