A provincial court in Alicante handed down a set of interlocking sentences totaling thirty years of imprisonment for a man accused of raping, robbing, and attempting to murder his former partner in a San Fulgencio home where she lived. The decision, issued by the First Division, can still be appealed. The defendant, who was already in prison and did not admit guilt during the October hearing, was ordered to pay approximately 154,000 euros in compensation to the victim for moral damages, injuries, and the loss of money and other valuables taken from the residence.
The court also imposed restraining orders, prohibiting any form of contact with the victim. The sentencing framework comprises 13 years for sexual assault, 12 additional years for attempted murder, and five years for violent robbery, alongside measures of seclusion and protection. The events defined as proven in the court’s ruling unfolded in the early hours of May 2, 2022, at a San Fulgencio house where the victim, a Russian national and former partner of the defendant, resided. The suspect gained entry by breaking the ground floor window, and cash alongside various valuables amounting to 4,108 euros were seized in connection with the case.
He threw her down the stairs
When the ex-partner returned home after being away briefly, the defendant’s response upon seeing her was to spring at her. He struck her in the face and other parts of the body, while she pleaded for money, and then he dragged her down the stairs. The assault moved to the basement, where the defendant continued to strike and threaten, insisting she hand over money or perform another act to intimidate her, asserting that he had nothing to lose and would kill her if necessary.
Following this, the perpetrator directed the victim to a room housing a stretcher, placing her beneath it, and drew a large knife, pressing for a sexual encounter. The applicant refused but was moved to another room where a bed stood, and she was subjected to sexual violence. The ordeal did not end with the rape; after the assault, the attacker wrapped the victim’s dress around her neck, attempting to suffocate her. He pressed further, and she briefly lost consciousness, feigning faintness only to fall back under his control once more.
Believing the victim to be dead, the suspect sprayed disinfectant on his exposed anatomy, possibly trying to erase traces of the crime. He also spread a duvet along the corridor to conceal his body, and as the victim regained awareness, he insisted she wash him with water and coaxed her to comply while continuing to threaten with the knife. After washing and dressing, she complied with his demand for money, surrendering what she could from her purse and her children’s saved coins. When no more cash could be found, he pressed for the victim’s credit card and password and used the opportunity to persuade her to accompany him to a nearby bank to withdraw more funds.
The two proceeded to the La Marina branch in San Fulgencio, with the suspect intending to reach an ATM located past the entrance to the office area. A female client happened to exit, providing the chance for the victim to seek help, and the suspect fled the scene. Law enforcement captured him soon after, while the victim received treatment for erosions, bruises, and related injuries.
Reliable and convincing version
The trial court deemed the victim’s account credible, noting that her testimony remained consistent throughout the procedure and did not waver. In contrast, the defendant’s defense presented an account that the court found lacking in substantiation. The court’s assessment highlighted the victim’s steady and persistent narration as a decisive factor, underscoring the absence of any doubt regarding the truth of her statements.
During the testimony, the victim explained that her priority at every moment was survival, and she feared for her children’s safety, imagining they would eventually discover her in a dangerous situation if she failed to endure the assault. The account reflected the victim’s resolve to persevere and to seek safety in the aftermath of the traumatic event, despite the severity of the harm inflicted.