The case against Antonio Cortés Cortés centers on allegations of murdering the wife he shared with four children, a tragedy that unfolded after she reportedly experienced an emotional breakdown. The defense accepts the basic facts but asks the court to recognize that the fatal confrontation began with the woman’s decision to end their relationship. The jury, drawn from the public and now hearing a detailed account of events, is asked to weigh the full context of the couple’s final night together.
The incident occurred on November 4, 2020, in Palma, within the informal settlement of El Hoyo, near the Secar de la Real and Establiments neighborhoods. The timeline places the events in the early evening, shaping a sequence that prosecutors say culminated in a fatal assault. The woman, Remedios Cortés Cortés, who was both a cousin and partner of the accused, chose to leave the family home with their children and sought refuge with family members. The plan for a quiet discussion about separation and the future of the children brought the couple back into each other’s orbit just before nine o’clock at night for what was described as a crucial conversation about the household’s dynamics.
Prosecutors contend that Cortés Cortés harbored suspicions that Remedios had begun an affair. While the defendant denies an ongoing romance, he acknowledges discovering a number in the family book and realizing it did not belong there. He found a photo in a messaging app suggesting connections with a young man known to Remedios. The defendant has stated that he confronted her about this contact, which escalated into tension and anger that night. He recalls accompanying her to discussions with relatives and then driving toward a different location, a route that would later be scrutinized as the events unfolded. In his testimony, he claimed to have been drinking with colleagues earlier in the evening, and he described a moment where Remedios allegedly became aggressive, leading to a struggle in which a screwdriver, reportedly kept in the car’s glove box, was used in the violence that followed. He asserts that he acted in self-defense, believing Remedios might be harmed, and that during the confrontation she was placed in the trunk of a car.
The prosecution presents a different sequence, arguing that Remedios managed to exit the vehicle, only to be pursued and subjected to further assault. They contend that the injuries sustained by the victim included a skull fracture, resulting from blows delivered with force, with the assault culminating in the victim’s death. The narrative from authorities also includes allegations that, after the initial attack, the body was moved and hidden, and belongings were disposed of as the suspect attempted to distance himself from the crime scene. A subsequent account indicates the body was concealed in a flood-prone area, with a distance of roughly 300 meters separating the initial attack from where the remains ultimately were found.
Following these events, Cortés Cortés reportedly left the scene and went to his brother’s residence, where he confessed to the crime. He explained that a combination of fear, confusion, and the effects of substances had clouded his memory of the exact sequence and details. family members urged him to surrender, and he eventually contacted law enforcement to disclose what had happened. The defendant’s legal team argues that jealousy alone did not drive the crime and that the couple’s relationship had become untenable, with ongoing disputes and a history of conflict that complicated the dynamics of their separation.
During the trial, the defense acknowledged the occurrence of a serious incident but invoked a range of extenuating circumstances to mitigate culpability. The proceedings are overseen by Judge Jaime Tártalo, with counsel for the autonomous community representing Remedios Cortés Cortés and serving as the prosecution’s witness. The defense requests a reduced sentence, citing mitigating factors, and the maximum penalty sought by prosecutors stands at 32 years. The defense, led by attorney Julio Romero, contends for a 20-year term given the circumstances and the evidence presented.
Supporters and relatives of Remedios Cortés Cortés gathered outside the Audiencia de Palma, directing verbal expressions toward the defendant as he appeared in court. Family members voiced their desire for a measure that would ensure long-term accountability, stressing the impact on four children left motherless and urging the justice system to protect the vulnerable members of the family as the case proceeds.
As the trial moves forward, the narrative remains focused on the interplay between personal history, emotional stress, and the choices made in moments of crisis. The court will continue to examine evidence, testimonies, and the context surrounding the relationship, with the aim of delivering a verdict that reflects both the facts and the gravity of the loss suffered by Remedios Cortés Cortés and her family. The proceedings underscore the heavy toll such cases impose on the immediate family and the surrounding community, heightening the demand for clarity, accountability, and closure as the legal process unfolds. At the core lies a question about responsibility, causation, and the boundaries of self-defense under the stress of a deteriorating relationship and a violent confrontation. [Cited records and testimony from the Palma court proceedings, local press summaries, and official statements, as reported by the involved parties and witnesses].