The jury is hearing a case from May 8 to May 12, 2022, involving a man accused of killing his wife after a long, 56-year marriage. The prosecution contends that the crime occurred in a moment shaped by fear and despair, arguing that the wife could not endure living in fear of his reactions to looming death.
In court, the prosecutor seeks a sentence of 22 years for murder. The case also involves aggravated circumstances tied to kinship and gender, and the two daughters of the couple, who are natives of Vigo but have spent seasons in Los Cristianos in the southern part of Tenerife, were each awarded ten years of probation and €100,000 in compensation. The crime reportedly occurred in May of the previous year.
Event
The prosecution describes a sequence in which the husband took advantage of the victim while she was asleep. He allegedly attacked her with a tool described as scissors measuring 8.5 cm, striking at her neck in a manner that left little chance for her to respond. He then moved to the kitchen and acquired a larger knife, reportedly 31 cm in length, before returning to the scene of the assault.
With the larger blade, the man allegedly assaulted the woman again. He is said to have stabbed her in the abdomen, prompting her to scream and attempt to close a door to deter further harm. Despite these efforts, the attacker is said to have continued, collapsing onto the floor after the initial onslaught. Neighbors, alerted by the sounds, contacted the authorities. Emergency responders found the woman unresponsive and covered in blood when they arrived at the home in Vigothé, a residence the couple used during certain periods while also spending extended time in a rented apartment in Los Cristianos, Tenerife.
The relationship reportedly had deteriorated over time. Recounted is a pattern of abuse by the accused, including contempt, humiliation, control, and physical as well as mental violence that the wife endured, often without resistance. The dynamics of power within the marriage appear to have intensified in recent days, leaving the victim in a position of submission amid repeated mistreatment.
In the days leading up to the tragedy, the man had been dealing with a severe ear condition that he described as irreversible. He perceived this ailment as a catalyst for additional verbal aggression from his partner, a factor that, according to testimony, exacerbated the ongoing tension between them.
The case has drawn attention not only for the alleged actions of the husband but also for the broader context of domestic violence that marked the couple’s years together. The court will consider whether the evidence supports the severity of the charges and whether the punishment aligns with both the legal framework and the human impact of the events on the family, the neighborhood, and the wider community in Tenerife and Vigo.