The county court handed down a total sentence of twelve years and six months in prison. A 35-year-old man who set fire to his partner’s home with her inside did so with the intent to kill, but swift intervention by firefighters saved her from a deadly outcome in Alicante. Where did she seek refuge? While the victim partially corroborated the prosecution’s case and the accused pleaded not guilty, the First Division court found him guilty of offenses including coercion, injury, threats, theft, and arson in a combined criminal case that also charged him with attempted murder.
The ruling also imposes several prohibitions, including staying at least 500 meters away from the spouse and refraining from any form of direct contact for nine years.
The penalty, which can be appealed to the Valencian Community High Court of Justice, does not establish civil liability for damages to the burning residence, as the homeowner did not pursue such a claim.
According to proven facts in the verdict, the accused, already convicted of threats and coercion within the family setting, had been living with his partner for two years in June and July 2022. A separate eviction action was ongoing, and there were attempts to control contact with the victim.
The couple resided on the ground floor of a building on Calle Capitán Rueda in Alicante. On June 21, 2022, a domestic dispute escalated, resulting in the defendant punching the victim in the face near the left eye, causing a visible injury.
“I will burn you alive”
Three days later, during another confrontation, the defendant issued a chilling threat intended to terrify the victim: “I will burn you alive. I’ll burn the house down while you’re inside.”
Frightened by the threat, the woman chose to sleep at her sister’s house that night to avoid potential harm.
The following day, June 30, the victim returned home and a new argument ensued. The defendant demanded money, and the woman left the residence with her purse afterward, contacting a friend by phone for support.
That same day, the woman took steps to secure the home by changing the locks, keeping the accused from entering again. However, in the early hours of July 1, the defendant went to the home while the victim slept inside. Knowing she was inside, he forced a piece of paper into a gap in the old lock and set it alight, though the fire did not fully take hold and the flames remained contained for a time.
From there, an outdoor ignition caused a sofa to flare up, and the flames quickly spread through the dwelling. The victim became trapped inside and sought safety in an inner courtyard, where firefighters rescued her after she called for help. The blaze endangered residents on the building’s fourth floor and caused damage to the home estimated at 8,258 euros. The incident prompted a broader assessment of safety and risk within shared living spaces in Alicante.
Legal authorities noted that the case involved serious offenses of threats, coercion, and arson committed within a domestic setting, with the defendant facing a multi-faceted charge that encompassed attempted murder and related crimes. The verdict reflects a clear stance against violence in intimate relationships and the protection of victims in crisis situations, supported by court records and prosecutorial documentation throughout the proceedings. The decision underscores the importance of swift emergency response and the legal framework designed to deter further abuse in domestic contexts. Attribution: court records from the Valencian Community High Court of Justice provide the factual basis for the ruling.