Common attacks
A recent ruling from an Alicante court provides a detailed look into a domestic violence case, illustrating how multiple offenses are evaluated within a single exposure. The judgment imposes a combined sentence of three years and nine months, reflecting a pattern of coercive and violent conduct by the defendant, who was 35 at the time. The verdict found him guilty of several acts of violence against his partner, who was under the age of adulthood during the 2019 events in Torrevieja. While the court cleared the defendant of sexual abuse by penetration due to insufficient corroborating evidence, the overall decision underscores the seriousness of the abuse and its impact on the survivor.
In the absence of the victim at the oral hearing, the court relied on statements she had previously provided as part of the evidentiary record. Alongside the prison term, the court ordered compensation for the survivor, granting 7,000 euros for moral damages tied to the harm suffered. This aspect of the ruling highlights the judiciary’s commitment to recognizing non-physical harm and providing redress beyond mere criminal punishment.
The events unfolded in 2019 during a romantic relationship between the defendant and a minor who was 16 years old, under guardianship, and had fled from a residence where she lived. The minor described ongoing physical abuse by the defendant during that period. The sentence lists a sequence of assaults on the partner, illustrating a pattern of aggression that spanned several months. On July 26, 2019, while living together, the defendant woke his partner abruptly, grabbed her by the hair, and restrained her in a room. When she attempted to escape, she endured kicks and slaps on multiple occasions, as described in the court order.
Later, on September 16, 2019, at another Torrevieja address, the defendant kicked her repeatedly, threw her to the ground, and struck her after pulling her hair, resulting in additional injuries to her body. The final assault occurred on November 5, 2019, at the victim’s sister’s home in Callosa de Segura, where the defendant punched her several times across the torso. These incidents demonstrate a sustained cycle of physical domination and coercive control that the court acknowledged as part of the offender’s overall conduct during that period.
There was a claim, though not proven beyond reasonable doubt, that at one point the defendant had a sexual encounter with the minor and that video footage captured the event. The court noted that the evidence for this particular incident did not meet the standard required for conviction on that charge, but it did not negate the other proven acts of violence and coercion carried out by the defendant during the same timeframe. This nuance reflects how courts weigh evidence for different charges within a broader pattern of abuse.
Throughout the proceedings, the court emphasized the pattern of abuse and the danger posed to the young partner. The combination of physical assaults and controlling behavior formed the basis for the overall responsibility attributed to the defendant in the judgment. The decision highlights the severity of the harm described and seeks to provide redress to the survivor through both punishment and compensation. The case serves as an example of how courts assess multiple offenses when they occur in a single exposure to domestic violence, weighing the strength of evidence for each charge and issuing sentences that address immediate harm as well as its longer term impact on the survivor. Experts note that such rulings reinforce the need for protective measures, ongoing support services, and clear accountability for those who abuse their partners. In reporting and analysis, legal professionals stress the importance of documenting the full spectrum of abusive behavior to ensure comprehensive redress and future prevention. In this Alicante ruling, the emphasis is placed not only on punishment but also on recognizing the lasting consequences endured by the survivor and the broader implications for safeguarding others in similar situations.