This Barcelona case involved actions against an illustrator and the author Paula Bonet, with the defendant, Víctor GT, facing penalties related to harassment. Reports indicate the individual was sentenced to a maximum of three years and three months in a psychiatric facility due to diagnosed mental illness. The sentencing judge must revisit the sentence and provide a clear justification for any mental illness defense that is accepted as valid.
The court noted that the administrative ruling addressing the defendant’s claim of invulnerability lacked sufficient reasoning. It stated that properly applying a mental disorder defense requires a high level of justification because this is a complex legal-psychological scenario. It must show why the reasons for the defense are valid and how probable they are, which is always a demanding standard. The ruling also called for an explanation of what specific pathology the so-called erotomanic delusional disorder entails and how it influences the defendant’s behavior.
The court further emphasized the need to explain the incidental link between the harassment and the distress experienced by Paula Bonet. It concluded that the initial sentence showed insufficient motivation, particularly for not considering a substantial portion of the evidence presented during the proceedings. This was a key factor in the Barcelona Court’s decision to grant the prosecution’s appeal.
Delusions and a “parallel reality”
According to the criminal judge, Víctor GT at the relevant time suffered from a pathological condition described as erotomanic delusions. This condition allegedly directed his will in a significant way. Erotomania is characterized by fixed beliefs that another person is in love with the affected individual, which can drive obsessive behavior.
The defendant harassed Paula Bonet over an extended period, described in the sentence as a “parallel reality” that dominated his thoughts and actions, preventing him from acting in a way that would be considered normal. The judge added that the illness is not curable but can be managed with appropriate treatment and ongoing medical care. The prosecution and a special prosecution, led by the artist’s attorney, had urged the court to reject the psychiatric disorder defense.
The verdict confirmed that the harassment lasted for about three years, beginning in July 2019, during which the defendant repeatedly approached the doors of Paula Bonet’s Barcelona workshop and pursued her at public events and exhibitions. The judge also acknowledged the emotional and professional harms suffered by the victim as a result of the sustained presence and pressure from Víctor GT, including the forced cancellation of his appearances at public engagements.