Juan José Jiménez (Madrid, 54 years old) is an experienced Marine Rescue helicopter pilot. He served in Majorca for twenty years, where his son Alejandro was born. Agost (Alicante) died in 2019 after being hit during maneuvers at the training ground.. Although an unfortunate accident was initially mentioned, the investigation by the Civil Guard revealed numerous irregularities and subsequent attempts to conceal them. Today, the Seville-based Second Military District Court is hosting the case. The death of Alejandro Jimenez.
What do you expect from the hearing that will start next week?
Justice. If things had been done right, my son’s death could have been prevented. From the first moment, they lied to me to cover up recklessness, not recklessness. I won’t be able to get my son back, but I think they’re paying for it by law. My only hope is justice.
The Civil Guards began investigating sixteen people, all of whom were in the maneuvering area, but the number of those investigated was reduced, leaving only four defendants in the end. Do you agree?
Yes, the Civil Guard detected awkward situations from the very beginning and initially investigated all personnel who were armed at the time. As the investigation progresses, they scan and expel anyone who has nothing to do with the case. When the Civil Guard ballistics experts confirm 100% that the bullet that killed my son came from the sergeant’s gun, who is left? The officer on duty who fired, lied, allowed the sergeant to shoot when he didn’t have to, and had coffee with a colleague instead of being there. In the end, those who use the gun illegally and who are responsible remain.
Alejandro’s relatives called for the case to be heard by ordinary justice, not by military justice, as the Military Justice Act did not provide for murder. Their appeals were dismissed and the defendants were charged with disloyalty or disobedience to authority against the efficiency of the service. Do you think this is fair?
I’ve thought about it a thousand times, but I didn’t go into it to judge whether it was fair. There are aspects where military justice is harsher than civil justice, and in others, civil justice is stricter. When the process in the military judiciary is over, we will evaluate the sentence and go to the Supreme Court and decide whether we want the Penal Code to be applied to those who are not counted from the Military Law.
It is a door that he keeps open.
Yes, I don’t believe this man deliberately killed my son. But they present it as an accident and in the end I believe it is a scam. The sergeant was instructed not to shoot. And when the ceasefire is ordered, where no one has to shoot, it continues. He fires at a fan, knowing the danger of doing this with a combat weapon and personnel around. He didn’t care.
Why do you think he did?
Because it is unconscious. Because he believed he could do whatever he wanted because we are legionnaires and nothing happens here. And his recklessness cost my son his life, if you can call it that. He didn’t have to use his gun in the drill and he did. And the lieutenant behind him allowed it. And that’s why when the armistice was given my son knelt on the ground handing over his gun, he kept shooting, invented a new enemy and started shooting at a fan, knowing that there were people around him. And gave my son. That’s why I’m telling you it wasn’t an accident. That’s why I want the ultimate scam, because that man was to instruct and fix, not to kill with the legionnaires. And the person who is responsible for ensuring that everyone follows the safety rules, who breaks the rules first, has to pay the price. And he understands that he gave my son the injection because he was the one who had the most difficulty in where my son was, and he came first. And he knows he shot my son because that same night instead of delivering the rifle to the Civil Guard, he’s heading to the Almería barracks. The Civil Guard must go to the Almería barracks and request a judicial order to retrieve the weapons that the captain disposed of that same night. When the Civil Guards went to get the gun, they had to wait for hours at the access control, so the judge almost had to go as they didn’t let them in. The reason you do all this is because you are aware of what is there from the very first moment.