In Madrid, a provincial court heard a case involving a man accused of crimes against dignity and other charges connected to a confrontation with two lesbian neighbors. The prosecution described a pattern of hate-driven hostility, including threats to harm and intimidate the pair because of their sexual orientation. A 33-month prison term was requested by the state in the initial filing for crimes including hate conduct and two counts of minor injuries believed to have affected both women. Prosecutor’s Office
According to the prosecutor, the animating reason behind the hostilities was the women’s sexual orientation and their romantic relationship. The alleged trigger involved the man being reprimanded for urinating in a shared common area, after which he allegedly attacked the neighbors with crutches in the afternoon of April 2, 2020, elevating the dispute and issuing threats toward the two young women. Prosecutor’s Office
Admittance to the incident
The defense contends that the incident, labeled by some as a neighborhood quarrel, has been misconstrued, and the attorney José Ignacio Antolín argued that there were mitigating circumstances. He suggested the possibility of underlying mental health concerns and indicated that a formal diagnosis had not yet been completed, indicating the potential impact on his client’s behavior. Defense counsel
Ultimately, the hearing did not proceed in full because a settlement was reached between the defense and the prosecution. With his head lowered, the defendant admitted to the assault in the judge’s presence and accepted a deal: one year in prison for two counts of minor injuries, with injuries sustained by each woman, plus a charge of moral integrity against one of the women and a separate threat-related count involving another. Court records
Threats and written notes
The prosecutor observed that the facts were established, though questions remained as to whether they qualified as hate crimes. The prosecution maintained that the principal motive was homophobia and noted that the two women sought medical attention after an assault that left one with a heavy blow and the other with a head injury. It was further alleged that the individual did not express remorse and, when encountering the women afterward, directed further insults toward them, citing prejudices against people based on sexual orientation. Prosecutor’s Office
Allegations extended beyond verbal abuse to written messages left on the couple’s car. Three handwritten notes were described as containing demeaning and explicit language directed at the women. The notes included references to sexuality and insults, portraying a hostile attitude toward the couple and implying threats. Prosecutor’s Office
The final documentation indicated that the crime against dignity was withdrawn after an agreement, while the man was convicted of the crime against moral integrity and admitted to two counts of minor assault along with threats. The agreed total sentence stood at one year in prison, plus civil liability of 700 euros and 180 euros in compensation. Judicial proceedings