hooded
A businessman from Benidorm recalled the events at a hearing in the Tenth Section of the Court. The incident took place on a farm near the Benidorm border in the municipality of La Nucía, shortly before eight in the evening on June 24, 2018. The victim, aged 79, described being approached by two men wearing hoodies who knocked him to the ground and struck him with a hammer.
The assailants forced their way into the house, restraining him and a woman who was pulled from the bathtub by her hair. They bound the mouth and eyes with duct tape and demanded money, all while the victim explained that he had been planning to purchase a luxury apartment for a substantial amount and had recently bought a new car.
What followed stretched over five grueling hours. The attackers fired an electric device, struck the victim with the hammer again, and threatened to mutilate him with scissors. A plastic bag was placed over his head to induce suffocation, and solvents were sprayed in the room. The victim later described the ordeal as a murder attempt rather than a mere robbery.
The two intruders split tasks: one searched the home for money, while the other guarded the captives. At trial, the victim identified one of the men as someone who worked for another English individual who had rented a terrace at a local bar and had been in contact days earlier about celebrating a daughter’s birthday.
The defendant faced the Alicante Court as the trial unfolded, with the case drawing attention for the severity of the violence. The victim stated that during the illegal detention offers of payment were made and discussed as a possible ransom to secure freedom.
The plan reportedly included a request of 60,000 euros in exchange for their release, with hints that a higher sum would be demanded or the captives would be harmed. The victim indicated that the attackers believed there was money stored at another address in Benidorm and that this location could be used to settle the tension around the incident.
As the situation escalated, the most violent assailant moved toward the designated house while the victim chose to escape through a tunnel dug in the garage. Even though he was handcuffed, the survivor managed to request permission to use the bathroom and seized the moment by turning off lights to slip away. A woman who had been abducted also managed to flee in a similar fashion. The assailant attempted to prevent the escape but the man succeeded in breaking free from the farm’s perimeter.
National Police officers responded to the alarm and found both victims running along a road, handcuffed and partially undressed. A police account described the moment as tense but noted that the suspect faced a strong risk of arrest after the victims identified him in a later session. The defendant later argued that he was in another part of Benidorm with his partner and did not take part in the attack, but this claim did not obtain conviction due to lack of direct evidence. The case remains under review as investigators pursue further corroboration of the defendant’s whereabouts at the time of the incident.
The survivor of the ordeal described the moment of escape as life saving, recounting that the assailants had stopped the bag from tightening around the head and that the danger had finally subsided. The prosecution, however, pressed for accountability for participation in the crime and for the violence that marked the incident.
The wider context of the case includes the pursuit of compensation for the victims, who seek reimbursement for the damages and the severe impact of the events on their lives. The court has to weigh the duration of confinement, the use of weapons, and the threats made against the two individuals who remained inside the property during the break-in.
The trial has highlighted long-standing concerns about home invasions in the region and the lasting effects on families who endure such traumatic experiences. Law enforcement officials have called for careful evaluation of the evidence and careful consideration of sentences that reflect the gravity of the violence involved in these acts.
The case is one among several that draw attention to organized crime elements and the involvement of individuals connected to networks abroad. The investigation continues as authorities review the full scope of this operation and its implications for public safety in the area.
police alert
Authorities reported that the police traced the incident after the alarm was raised and found the two victims in distress along the road. The events prompted a rapid police response to secure the scene and ensure the safety of the survivors. The suspect presented a challenge to the court as a fugitive may be connected to a broader network involved in similar crimes, yet the justice system remains focused on establishing accountability for the actions taken on that day.
The authorities noted that the victims identified the principal participant through their testimony and voice recognition. The defense argued that a portion of the accused was elsewhere during the assault, but the absence of direct evidence hindered a decisive verdict at the time. A police officer confirmed that the security restraints used on the businessman and his wife were removed as part of the escape and that the attacker pursued the case with renewed urgency after the escape was secured.
In the aftermath, the businessman credited the actions of those who helped to free him and bring the incident to light. The prosecution maintained that accountability is warranted for all involved, including those who supplied the plan and those who carried it out. The hearing underscored the heavy toll such events take on individuals and their families as they navigate the legal process and seek justice for the harm caused by the crime.