District Court sentenced four years in prison A 38-year-old Algerian man arrested by the National Police in Alicante last year a boat pattern He was traveling with ten other people. The court evaluated that the defendant was the captain of the boat and that he endangered the lives of immigrants during the journey. Algeria to the province Alicantewhere the boat was rescued half a mile away Santa Pola.
The defendant, who has been in prison since his arrest and was brought to justice in Alicante in October last year, was found guilty of “intentional murder”. support illegal immigration It poses a risk to the life and integrity of people affected by illegal entry into the territory of Spain and the European Union.
The defendant blamed others for driving the boat and assured that he was just an ordinary passenger, unlike other patrons who pleaded guilty in the Alicante Court in recent months to face a two-year prison sentence.
However, the court of the Second Part of the Trial is of the opinion that the employer is proven to be the defendant and emphasizes: ” seriousness and strength” from the statement protected witnessThe place for the oral hearing could not be determined, but his statement was seen in the evidence prepared in advance in court.
Approximately 7,000 deaths at sea
In his witness statement he stated the following: The boat was about to be crushed by a merchant ship and the Court considers the transition “reckless” and recalls it in 2023 6,518 people died at sea While trying to reach the Spanish coast.
The events stated to be proven in the decision occurred on October 12 at around 16.30. Civil Guard patrol boat He stopped a boat with 11 undocumented immigrants half a mile from Santa Pola, and Salvamento Marítimo transported them to the port of Alicante.
The boat they were traveling in was a fiberglass boat with an outboard motor, about seven meters long. They had no shovels or rescue equipment.As stated in the sentence. The court argued that the boat was not suitable for passage from Algeria to Alicante. 198.73 nautical miles lies in a straight line, emphasizing that the journey takes place “in” difficult conditions and danger of sinkingThus, it endangers the life and integrity of the building’s residents, who do not even have life jackets.”
The migrants boarded the boat in the town of Tipasa, Algeria, at half past seven in the morning on October 11, 2023, and paid for the journey in Algerian currency. Between 1,300 and 1,700 euros.
According to the court, there is no doubt that the defendant was in control of the boat throughout the entire journey from Algiers to the coast of Alicante and did not have a navigation licence.“The risk to those inside the boat has increased.”. The decision states that the photos and videos presented by the defense reflect “the situation of the people”. overcrowded the condition of the occupants of the boat and the absence of any safety equipment”.
The decision also states that the protected witness’s testimony was supported by the statements of the national police officers who prepared the report. One of them said that the protected witness “He felt betrayed and frightened by his experiences.“And that’s why I identified the boss.
Likewise, a civil guard who intervened in the rescue said: There were no life jackets on the shipAlthough the defendant said there were some and the boss and two others were wearing blue hats. The verdict adds that in footage provided by the defence, the defendant can be seen wearing a conspicuous blue hat.