This Thursday, the District Court of Zaragoza held the fourth session of the popular jury trial against Vanesa Muñoz Pujol and Cristian Lastanao Valenilla. Tortured and killed his daughter Laia. On that occasion, the Prosecutor’s Office, special charges, and the defense finalized their conclusions — both defendants face permanent, reviewable prison sentences — and began reading reports sent to the nine members of the town elected to administer justice. The lawyer representing the victim’s biological father, Manuel Hatero, was particularly strong; He had no hesitation in stating: Both Vanesa and Cristian are “wolves in sheep’s clothing”. “If they wanted to kill himThere are many and varied symptoms. They beat him with sticks and systematically drugged him in the last 48 hours.. “He was a zombie, a rag doll that was kicked,” emphasized Hatero, adding that there was no doubt about the defendant’s guilt.
“It is a person calculating, quick-tempered and cold one who inexplicably offers himself as a sacrifice. Their ‘modus operandi’ is to get pregnant by their partners and report them for abuse. If the evidence is analyzed carefully, this leads us to confirm that we are facing a problem. two cruel criminals. “They are the murderers of your daughter,” the lawyer continued. Beyond these considerations, Hatero justified his request for permanent, reviewable prison by claiming that it was a crime. to which treacherous death and cruelty also contributed because “there was an inhumane desire to deliberately increase the suffering of the victim”, such as placing the victim in cold water several hours before confirming his death.
The prosecution representative also made statements along the same lines, although he clearly stated that the defendant’s wish was not to end the girl’s life. In this sense, the prosecutor explained that crimes can be committed through action and negligence, and for this very reason, he considered that the defendant was responsible for the death of the minor. “The evolution period of perinotitis disease was 48 hours, so For 48 hours, the duo saw that this girl was very bad. Their duty was to take him to the doctor, but they didn’t.“When they saw that the girl was very bad, they continued without reacting. They were aware that the situation was serious,” the prosecutor continued, reminding that the defendant did not call the health services first, but instead asked for help from the neighbors, and one of them notified the police “directly”.
The defense authorities insisted on the acquittal of their clients. While Vanesa’s lawyer stated that he was “not aware of the seriousness of the events”, which he attributed solely to Cristian, Vanesa’s lawyer tried to explain: “submitted to his will”.
The defendants also had their turn to have the last word. While Vanesa chose to remain silent, Cristian decided to address the room for the last time. “I never knew this could happen.“said.
The verdict will be delivered to jurors next Monday, who will lock themselves in to deliberate on the innocence or guilt of Vanesa and Cristian. If they are found guilty, the jury court’s president, Alfonso Ballestín, will decide. imprisonment this should be imposed on them.