At dawn, the Violencia sobre la Mujer court number 3 in Alicante ordered the provisional detention without bail for the ex-husband and two of his sons of the woman who was stabbed in Alicante, according to judicial sources. The interrogation began around 1:00 p.m. and, after more than two hours, the judge granted provisional detention. The Public Prosecutor’s Office argued that all three acted in concert to commit the assault.
The three detainees, aged 48, 19, and 20, appeared separately before the magistrate while groups of relatives gathered near the Benalúa Justice Palace. First the father, then each of the two sons, and finally a joint hearing for all three. By about 3:00 p.m., detention was decided for all of them.
The case is open on a charge of attempted homicide, with potential additional qualifications to be added as investigations progress. The magistrate, on duty, also ordered as a precautionary measure that the detainees stay at least 500 meters away from the victim and her other daughter, and that they avoid any form of communication with them.
The victim, 51 years old, was stabbed while seated in a cafe on Plaza Manila. The couple were in the process of separating, a situation described as a source of ongoing conflicts. The incident occurred around midday on Monday when the victim sat on a terrace at a café in Plaza Manila, Alicante, accompanied by her daughter. The ex-husband arrived in a car with two of his children, left the vehicle in the square, and descended to confront her. Police sources indicate one son produced a pepper spray and sprayed it toward the woman. The other son drew a knife and stabbed her in the right side before they returned to the car and fled.
Details of the suspects’ statements remain scarce. Journalistic sources indicate the detainees deny seeking out the victim, claiming the meeting was accidental and that it escalated into an argument. They say they were in the cafe when the woman arrived. The pepper spray incident affected nearby customers, causing eye irritation and breathing difficulties for several patrons.
Avoidance
While each detainee played a different role, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested detention for all, a measure the magistrate granted. Prosecutors contend that the defendants divided responsibilities to wound the victim. One son incapacitated her with pepper spray, another stabbed her. They alleged the acts were instigated by the father. Consequently, all three face attempted homicide charges. The defense, represented by attorney Marcos Santiago, argues that there was no established prior agreement among the three to commit the act.
The ex-husband had prior domestic abuse records and a protective order that was no longer in force. According to the Valencian Community’s High Court, the restraining measure had expired because it stemmed from a 2022 sentence that had already been satisfied. As a precaution, the magistrate barred all detainees from contacting the victim or the daughter who was with her at the time of the attack.
The woman remains hospitalized at the General Hospital of Alicante, in stable condition though not in immediate danger. Given her medical state, she has not yet been able to appear in court as a private accuser. Once her condition improves, she will be assigned a lawyer to represent her interests.