A teenager accused of killing two British tourists in Florida gunned them down after they said they did not have any money to hand over, a court has heard.

Shawn Tyson, who turned 17 on Monday, is said to have gone to rob James Cooper, 25, and James Kouzaris, 24, in April last year.

But when the pair, who had drunkenly stumbled into the rundown Newtown neighbourhood of Sarasota, said they did not have any cash with them he shot them dead, prosecutors alleged.

The victims also apparently begged their attacker to let them go and claimed they were only trying to return home, the court heard.

Tyson faces a life sentence if convicted, but will not face the death penalty because of his age.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2118785/Teenager-gunned-British-tourists-Florida-handing-cash.html