Case of domestic violence in Sagunto highlights prolonged abuse and coercive control
A 50-year-old woman was found by police at her home in Sagunto, Valencia, bound and partially unclothed from the waist down after a tip from her daughter. The alleged abuse occurred while the victim was living with her partner. The case is before the First Division of the Valencian County Court, with the Public Prosecutor seeking penalties including fines and a lengthy prison term for crimes that include illegal detention, threats, and offenses against moral integrity. The authorities say the victim was restrained for two hours in a humiliating manner and threatened with fatal harm to her daughter.
The incident is dated October 31, 2021, at the family residence in Sagunto, where the couple had shared a home for five years. According to the victim, after a confrontation, the alleged offender damaged household furniture, grabbed the victim by the hair, dragged her, and struck her in the face. The prosecution frames these actions within a belief that asserts male supremacy over women, a motive that the plaintiff argues underpinned the violence.
The defendant, who attended court with legal counsel, did not admit to mistreating the partner and offered only brief responses when questioned. He asserted that he does not hold sexist views and that his partner occasionally contributed to household duties, hinting at stereotypes about gender roles.
The defendant told the court that he is not sexist and that both partners shared domestic responsibilities, including cooking. He suggested that any injuries or distress could be explained by other factors and stated that he did not keep the victim restrained against her will. Prosecutors and investigators, however, reported a different sequence of events based on the victim’s testimony and the condition in which she was found.
When the defense was queried, the defendant claimed that the restraints were a result of the victim’s voluntary actions and claimed she was free to leave at any time. The defense further stated that the victim had removed some items of clothing on her own accord, even as authorities noted the use of improvised bindings to prevent escape.
“Don’t come in, call the police”
The victim’s version contradicts the defense’s account and the defense offered limited responses to the prosecution. The woman said she was bound with clothing and later with improvised ties, ultimately being restrained in a garage area with items obtained to ensure she could not move. She reported that her daughter, who arrived home during the incident, was told to stay out and to contact the authorities if the offender threatened the victim’s life.
According to the victim, police from the National Police and Sagunto Local Police arrived after the daughter contacted emergency services. The officers freed the victim, who had remained tied for nearly two hours and whose trousers had been left down. In addition to visible abrasions on the wrists and forearms, a head injury was noted.
The aftermath includes ongoing psychological effects for the victim, including difficulty sleeping and persistent fear for her daughter’s safety. The victim reported a constant sense that harm could occur at any moment, a realization that continues to affect daily life and wellbeing.
The defendant now faces a potential prison term, along with other charges, as authorities pursue action based on unlawful detention, threats, and offenses against moral integrity. The court is weighing the evidence and the implications of the alleged violence for the two people involved and for the broader issue of gender-based aggression in the community.