Photographer shot dead as bride, groom pose with guns

London: A wedding photographer in Italy was accidentally shot dead when he asked the bride and the groom to pose with guns as he wanted it "as props in the picture".

Calogero Scimea, 45, was shot in the head when one of the guns went off.

Valentina Anitra, 22, and her sweetheart Ignazio Licodia, 25, along with their parents were horrified by the turn of events and they immediately cancelled the wedding, Daily Express reported Wednesday.

The incident took place as they were about to leave for the church in Altofonte, near Palermo, Sicily.

"No one can believe it. Everybody is in a state of shock. It's such a tragic accident. The bride and groom are devastated," the town's deputy mayor, Angela Busellini, was quoted as saying.

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

"One went off, hitting him in the head, killing him. He was only there as a favour for the wedding photographer who had originally been booked but had to pull out as he was ill. The bride and groom were distraught and the wedding was immediately cancelled," he added.