The man accused of killing his ex-wife with 64 stab wounds and of trying to kill his 16-year-old son in Fuengirola, Malaga, in 2019 chose not to testify during the jury trial that began this week. He told the court, I don’t remember what happened that day, I speak from the heart. I don’t know what it is and I don’t know why, he added, offering only limited answers.
The trial started after the selection of the members of the Court of People, where the Malaga Prosecutor’s Office has requested the case be heard. The defendant faces 34 years in prison for murder and an additional sentence for attempted murder. The special prosecutor representing the relatives complied with the request for charges.
The defense does not dispute the person who killed the woman, but argues she had no intention to kill her son. It also contends that the defendant may have committed some acts but cannot be held responsible due to a mental disorder, asking for detention for treatment and ten years of probation.
Defense counsel urged the court to consider that their client, still presumed innocent, has been treated as a criminal since the investigation began. They pointed out that an attempt is being made to reveal his mental state with a formal assessment.
The events occurred in January 2019. The couple had been married for 24 years, but after ongoing problems they separated in October 2018 and moved to Fuengirola with their son. The defendant frequently returned home to check on the child, although some visits reportedly unsettled the woman, according to the prosecutor.
Accordingly, based on preliminary findings from the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor reported by Europa Press, on the day of the incident the man went to the home where he argued with his former partner and, at a certain moment, unexpectedly attacked the woman with a kitchen knife, stabbing her repeatedly.
The accusation holds that the woman could not defend herself against the violent assault and was caught off guard. She allegedly suffered 64 stab wounds, mainly to the face, chest, and limbs. Despite the severity of the injuries, she survived the initial attack but endured extensive suffering from blood loss.
Son
The son, who was home at the time, heard the cries and came out of his room to find his mother on the kitchen floor. He said the defendant stabbed his mother while gripping her arms and legs. He tried to intervene, begging his father to stop, but the assailant allegedly inflicted two stab wounds on the boy’s neck.
The son, now 19, testified that his relationship with his father was normal until age 14, after which things changed and he described ongoing turmoil. He portrayed his mother as a kind, understanding person who did not deserve to suffer. He recalled arguments between his parents, claiming there were times when he witnessed psychological abuse aimed at his mother, and that her safety seemed to depend on her ability to placate the situation. He stated that his mother was not ill and could read what was happening, even noting that she wore gloves during some moments.
He expressed a deep sense of guilt, saying he felt responsible for not leaving sooner, though he maintains that he never spoke ill of his father. He described his father as someone who worked outside the home and, when at home, took care of the household and helped with his homework.
Regarding the day of the crime, he said his father returned home, argued with his mother, and at some point he heard rising noises but did not think much of it. When the sounds grew louder, he walked out to see his mother on the floor covered in blood, and she insisted that she needed psychological care.
The prosecutor described the defendant’s actions as savage and cold, noting that after chasing his son away, the man returned home, found the woman on the floor, and calmly went to a hospital to seek medical help. The prosecution argued that the defendant acted with total awareness and intent, even after the attack on his wife.
The defense raised questions about the credibility of a mental disorder or incapacity based on medical opinions presented by two doctors, suggesting that jurors would need to judge whether a person of such evident agitation could be calm enough to seek medical care. They argued it could be self-defense if something arose against him, but the case, as described, indicates the defendant acted with full consciousness and will.
The charges include murder, for which the prosecution seeks 25 years in prison and 10 years of probation, and a separate count of attempted murder that carries a nine-year term and a ban on approaching the son for 15 years, plus five years of probation. The civil liability portion requests compensation to the son of the victim for physical injuries and psychological damages and a similar amount to the heirs of the murdered woman, each valued at 200,000 euros to address treatment needs and related suffering.