“I wasn’t there that night, I was at home with my son and wife.” “I know the rest of the defendants from the neighborhood, nothing more.” Although everyone’s answer is the same, five people sit on the bench. “I have nothing to do with the Trinitarians.” “Group, which group? Prove it.” They are between 20 and 23 years old. Together they reach one thirty police records and according to the National Police Information Brigade, they form part of the ‘choir’ of Trinitarios in Madrid’s Tetuán neighbourhood. They state that among them is the person who is a senior manager. They entered the temporary prison in June 2022.
The trial begins in the Madrid District Court. The first session took place this Monday. Sitting together, handcuffed, the five challenge the judge and display the same attitude in front of the prosecutor. “You are accused of being a member of a criminal organization and attempted murder.” Despite the proven facts, they give nonsense answers, questioning “this is me because you say so”. The prosecutor’s office is of the opinion that the five entered a nightclub in Madrid and stabbed a young man (TR) He was seen as a traitor known to everyone. The National Police investigation concluded that he wanted to leave the Trinitarios group, not the Tetuán choir. Answering the prosecutor’s questions, the five defendants said one by one, “The victim? I do not know that person and I have never been with him.”
“The stove and the situation are serious”
It’s 2 a.m. on a Monday morning. April 25, 2022. At the Magic Drink nightclub on Madrid’s Marqués de Viana Street, the doorman tells the judge that “calm” prevails. He comes to testify as a witness, protected by a curtain. His statement is important, he was there, it tells how it all started. “I see a group of 10-12 people standing about 10 meters from the entrance. Only one approaches, I check him out. He had no gun, machete, mask or hood and entered the building“. The doorman says that the young man came out after a few seconds. “Is it true or not?” the others ask the young man. He answers positively: “It is.” He says so at that moment.” The remaining “young people, wearing masks, caps, hats; veils, hoodies…” and attacked him with machetes.
The victim (EN) is 20 years old, he had been experiencing something there for a while. “She was accompanied by a man and a woman.” They also attacked the young woman with a knife.
“The stove and the situation are serious,” one of the defendants wrote on WhatsApp a short time later. More messages would arrive the next day. “It was reported in the press.” “We fight the little ones.” “The press mentions the number 3 (implying that the victim was a member of Dominik Don’t Play, not Trinitario.” When the prosecutor read the messages out loud, the defendants said they did not remember writing anything like that. “I don’t remember, no.”
“They gave the green light to come after me.”
The attack lasted just over a minute. During the hearing, the doorman of the building said, “They left the building with machetes and ran away.” “I was not armed, there were many of them, I did not confront them.” EN was in a very serious condition, had wounds on his head and legs, and one of his arms was half amputated. happened intubated and stabilized by Samur-Civil Protection paramedics who carried him to the hospital. serious situation He was taken to hospital in La Paz and spent several days in intensive care. “I was hospitalized for three months,” he said via video conference before the judge as a protective measure.
“They gave them the green light to come after me,” the victim says, which amounts to permission and almost a requirement for any member. The gang that shot and crushed those who wanted to leave. “Not only did they attack me with machetes, they also hit me on the head with a bottle. They weren’t coming to attack me, they were coming to kill me, I know that.”
Out of fear, possible threats or to avoid being prosecuted for being a member of a criminal organisation, he also contradicts his words when asked: “I didn’t want to leave the group, it has nothing to do with it.” “So did they give the defendant the green light then?” He answered yes. “I have no doubt that they belong to Trinitarios,” the victim says. “I know them, so I was able to recognize them in the police lineup.”
kicked out of room
In the courtroom, the defendant laughs and challenges. “Please stay quiet,” the judge warned several times. “All black people are gang members… What are the police doing here?” Laughter, more challenge: “show me this, tell me that…” and looks to the audience present – friends and family. Tension has increased by now. “They were warned many times. Please get them out of hereasked the judge. The police had to take two of the defendants to the cells, who were dismissed by the judge.
With this incident, the first day of the trial of the five Trinitarians was characterized by memory loss: “I don’t remember”, ignorance: “I don’t know”. And the dismissal of each of the prosecutor’s questions: “Don’t you know any Trinidadians?” “NO”. “But there’s a tattoo on your neck, right? Can you show it?” “I don’t show it. This tattoo doesn’t say Trinitarios, it says Trinidad.”