A Coruña state court has handed down a ten-year prison sentence to a taxi driver for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old passenger in Santiago, after steering away from the expected route and exploiting the victim’s sleep during the ride.
According to the July 29, 2022 ruling, the incident occurred at dawn on March 8, 2018, more than four years ago. The young woman boarded the back seat of the taxi, operated by a 43-year-old driver stationed in the city center. The court found that the driver deviated from the planned path upon reaching the Galeras area, taking advantage of the fact that the victim had fallen asleep during the five-minute journey and disabling the device that could track the trip.
He then moved the vehicle to a secluded stretch on the outskirts of the city, a place described as dark and poorly lit with no nearby residences. In addition, the defendant had previously removed the victim’s phone from the back seat, enabling him to exit the car, climb back in, and commit the sexual assault.
The court noted that the young woman was rendered immobile by fear, facing an imminent inability to seek help or escape. Later, the accused had an opportunity to use a condom and forced vaginal penetration against the victim’s will, when the woman began crying and pleaded for him to stop.
After the assault, the driver returned to the front seat, handed back the victim’s phone, and drove to the young woman’s home, all while she cried along the way. She then contacted a friend after recounting the rape to him.
The victim became “paralyzed”
The judges emphasized that the crime involved not only non-consensual intercourse, but also intimidation, with the attacker exploiting conditions designed to instill terror, leaving the victim paralyzed and unable to respond. The court stressed the credibility of the survivor’s account, describing it as persistent, convincing, and consistent throughout the proceedings.
The narrative described by the victim aligned with other records, including testimonies from people who were with her immediately after the incident, visible injuries, and the psychological impact noted in a psychologist’s report. It also matched the route taken by the taxi that night, reinforcing the account’s reliability.
During the hearing, the defendant argued that the sexual encounter occurred with the victim’s consent and that she had offered it. The judges rejected this claim as implausible, noting that the defense presented a story that was both inconsistent and unlikely when set against the objective data of the case.
Magistrates also criticized the defendant’s role as a taxi driver, a public service that should convey safety and security to nighttime travelers. The court concluded that the ten-year sentence was appropriate given the severity of the offense. It described the act as especially serious: a taxi driver picking up a 19-year-old at dawn and exploiting her sleep in a dark, isolated area with no chance to seek help or escape, leaving the victim exposed to possible harm, including threats to life.
The court found that the psychological damage and the changes in the victim’s behavior were substantial and well documented. The sentence included ten years in prison, eight years of probation, and compensation for the crime of sexual assault, along with a 20,000 euro payment to the survivor. The court also imposed a 15-year ban on approaching or communicating with the victim. In addition, the taxi company owner, who employed the driver for many years, was held liable for the same amount of compensation as part of the civil liability associated with the case.
Overall, the ruling underscores the impact of sexual violence and the importance of accountability for professionals who hold positions of trust. The decision reflects how investigators, prosecutors, and the judiciary respond to such offenses with a focus on survivor protection and accountability for perpetrators and their affiliated entities, as evidenced in the court’s detailed assessment and the subsequent penalties.