The Malaga Court’s Eighth Division is set to begin hearing the case of a man known by the alias “El mellillero” starting Monday, November 13. Prosecutors accuse him of involvement in an acid attack on his former girlfriend and a friend in Cártama, Malaga, in January 2021. The office has sought a combined sentence of 51.5 years and has charged five additional individuals in connection with the incident.
The trial, originally planned for last June, was postponed after one defense attorney underwent surgery. It has been rescheduled to start this Monday and to continue on November 20, 24, 27, 30, and December 1.
Malaga’s Prosecutor’s Office contends that El mellillero orchestrated the attempted murder, supported by the involvement of five other defendants, including the person who threw the corrosive substance. The office also notes that the case carries an aggravating factor related to gender-based violence.
In its preliminary filing, the prosecutor details two counts of attempted murder for which the defendant faces 17 years in prison for each count. Additional charges include membership in a criminal organization, two counts of threatening, two counts of harassment, and a single count of habitual abuse, each with corresponding prison terms. The office also charges two counts of criminal acts with a combined total of years in prison requested for the defendants involved.
According to the prosecutor, the defendants are said to belong to an organization focused mainly on drug trafficking, with occasional crimes against property. It is alleged that El mellillero held leadership functions while the others served as subordinates under his command.
Facts
The acid attack occurred in Cártama shortly after 2:00 PM on January 12, 2021. The defendant and one of the victims had an intimate relationship from May to December 2020, which ended after the defendant allegedly insulted, disrespected, and assaulted her. The prosecutor describes the man as being obsessed with the former partner and unwilling to accept the breakup.
The public accusation asserts that the main defendant devised a premeditated plan for both the execution and the abduction that followed, allegedly leveraging his role as head of the organization. On the day of the incident, a vehicle carrying the two women was intercepted as it passed a checkpoint.
The prosecutor states that El mellillero acted with the intent to attack her life and inflict extreme pain, showing apparent contempt for women. The attack culminated in the abduction and a calculated display of power, with the accused calculating the consequences before the incident concluded with the two victims suffering severe injuries.
One co-defendant is described as the co-pilot who transported a large container and is accused of ordering the main defendant to exit the vehicle and throw sulfuric acid into the car. This act, carried out through the driver’s window, is said to have threatened the victims’ lives.
The assault left the victims with extensive injuries, forcing them to abandon the enclosed vehicle to avoid asphyxiation from the fumes. In the aftermath, the main defendant allegedly laughed and watched, fully confident in the predicted outcome as the vehicle collided with another car and then a lamppost.
Both women required hospital care to survive. The ex-girlfriend suffered extensive burns across nearly half of her body, underwent multiple surgeries, and now faces lasting physical and psychological consequences, including scarring and reduced quality of life. The extent of injuries includes long-term visual impairment, difficulty with swallowing, and limited mobility in several body parts.
The other woman sustained significant burns as well and is reported to be in stable condition after multiple procedures. Both victims endure severe post-traumatic stress and other mental health challenges stemming from the attack.
Pre-Planning
The prosecutor’s office maintains that the defendants formed an organization that facilitated the attack. It is noted that El mellillero and his co-pilot allegedly planned to spray acid the day before the incident, while they were in Cártama and followed the victims’ vehicle.
On the day of the attack, the former partner was urged to roll down the passenger window; fear reportedly prevented this, though the main defendant allegedly reassured or threatened her with harm. He is said to have signaled to another accomplice to take action, and there are indications of prior threats aimed at destroying the affected person’s appearance and well-being.
Public accusations claim that El mellillero directed another defendant, his close associate, to exit the vehicle and to procure the acid. It is also believed that this associate helped other defendants evade arrest until apprehended in Mijas, Malaga, four days later.
Control and Fear
Documents indicate that days before the attack the defendants positioned two individuals beneath the victims’ cars to monitor movements using geolocation beacons, all without consent or knowledge from the victims.
The prosecution asserts that the victim and the defendant were living together; the relationship dissolved after rain of insults and alleged abuse. The victim says the man harassed her continuously by phone after the breakup, fueling fear and constant vigilance in daily life.
In addition to the prison terms sought, the public ministry urges a ban preventing the main defendant from approaching or communicating with the victims for nearly five decades. It also requests that he be prohibited from residing in Cártama for 20 years, arguing that gender-based and kinship factors aggravated the charges.
The remaining defendants face counts of attempted murder and membership in a criminal organization, with additional charges for serious threats toward the passenger in the car. The prosecution seeks a combined penalty exceeding 38 years for these defendants. Compensation sums are also requested, including 1.1 million euros to the ex-girlfriend and 312,522.22 euros to the friend for injuries and consequences.