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In Alicante, a court delivered a two-year prison sentence to a man found guilty of stabbing a neighbor in Alcoy and delivering three blows to the neighbor’s wife during a heated quarrel, a judgment later upheld by the Supreme Court. The ruling also orders the defendant to compensate the injured party a total of 10,650 euros for medical injuries and cosmetic damage, and imposes a restraining order prohibiting the defendant from approaching the victim within 300 meters for five years.
The Third Chamber’s verdict fixes the facts as proven on July 16, 2020. That afternoon, the accused stood on the staircase outside his home in Alcoy when two neighbors descended and their dispute escalated into a confrontation.
The defendant reportedly went back inside, returning moments later with a knife. He lunged at the neighbor in an attempted chest stab, but the target sidestepped, receiving a blow to the arm instead. The assailant then grabbed a broom handle nearby and began striking the neighbor in a bid to disarm him. The victim managed to push the knife away as the struggle intensified.
Even after the knife was dropped, the defendant allegedly retrieved money and tried to press it into the neighbor’s side. The victim blocked the attempt with his hands, sustaining injuries in the process. The fight continued until the neighbor finally managed to force the assailant away and create space between them.
At that moment, the wife who had been stabbed shouted at the neighbor for his involvement and received three blows to the jaw in response before the two couples left the scene and called the police. The defendant, convicted of two injuries, one of which was minor, presented 6,500 euros to the court as an initial payment toward a total estimated compensation of around 11,000 euros. The court, with the parties’ agreement at the hearing, adjusted the compensation amount by recognizing the crime and applying a reduction to the damages.
The case reflects a pattern of violent altercations in which an argument escalates into a physical confrontation, resulting in both physical harm and subsequent civil liability. The court’s decision to impose a monetary award alongside a substantial restraining order signals the judiciary’s aim to deter repeat offenses and to protect the victims from further contact. The Supreme Court’s affirmation of the sentence underscores the seriousness with which these incidences are treated and clarifies the scope of liability for injuries sustained during urban altercations.
From a broader perspective, this ruling illustrates the interplay between criminal penalties and civil restitution in Spain. When an individual commits violent acts that harm another person and a spouse, the court can apportion responsibility for medical costs, cosmetic damages, and other related losses. The imposed restraining order serves to prevent further incidents in a community setting, echoing similar measures employed in cases of domestic or street-level violence. The decision to modulate the compensation amount demonstrates a careful balance between acknowledging the offense and acknowledging mitigating factors presented during the hearing. The outcome in Alcoy aligns with the judiciary’s ongoing effort to address violent incidents with both accountability and protection for victims.
The record indicates that the July 16, 2020 incident began with a neighborly dispute that quickly escalated into forceful acts. The assailant’s actions—returning home for a knife, then attempting a stabbing, followed by blunt force with a broom handle—show a progression from immediate threat to sustained aggression. The victim’s response, including blocking the knife and eventually driving the aggressor away, reflects the dynamics of a confrontation where self-defense and persistent aggression intersect. The involvement of the accused’s wife, resulting in a separate set of injuries, adds to the complexity of the case and highlights the broader impact on all parties involved. The eventual police notification completed the chain of events from confrontation to legal processing, ensuring a formal record of both the offenses and the civil claims that followed.
The court’s decision to require the defendant to pay approximately 10,650 euros in damages, with the possibility of further adjustment as indicated, emphasizes the financial dimension of criminal acts. It also demonstrates the courts’ willingness to align penalties with the severity of injuries and the circumstances of the assault. The five-year restraining period reduces the risk of renewed contact, promoting community safety while the legal process remains ongoing or in the post-conviction phase. This approach reflects a broader judicial philosophy that seeks to protect potential victims and deter similar conduct in urban neighborhoods where tensions can flare into violence.
Overall, the Alcoy case stands as a clear example of how combined criminal and civil responses operate within the Spanish legal system. It confirms the principle that individuals who commit violent acts can face prison time, financial restitution, and protective restrictions designed to prevent reoffending. The Supreme Court’s confirmation of the sentence reinforces the message that violence in and around the home, or between neighbors, carries serious consequences that extend beyond the immediate moment of the incident. Source: Supreme Court of Spain.