A court in Vallirana, near Barcelona, handed down sentences this week to four youths who were involved in a disturbing case from 2018. The court ordered three years of detention in a regime center, followed by four years of probation, for harassment and sexually assaulting a classmate who has Asperger’s syndrome. The events took place at a local secondary school, and the individuals were students at the time of the offenses.
The victim, a 13-year-old student, faced a brutal assault, while the attackers were aged between 14 and 15. The judge emphasized serious violations of moral integrity and sexual offenses connected to the acts, including sexual contact that was not consensual. The decision clarifies the nature of the charges and the corresponding penalties in the regime center, with a focus on the protection of the victim’s rights and well-being.
Hearing in October
Earlier in October, the case was heard behind closed doors, reflecting the sensitivity of juvenile proceedings. The Barcelona Juvenile Court Number 6 maintained privacy protections because the defendants were minors at the time of the incidents, even though some had since reached adulthood. Legal sources have noted the court’s determination to proceed with juvenile measures that apply to those still within the scope of the juvenile justice system.
According to Efe, the court sentenced the four young defendants to three years in detention and four years of probation within a closed regime center. In addition, the defendants and their families were ordered to contribute to the victim’s compensation in solidarity, totaling 65,000 euros, with the school center bearing subsidiary liability for the incident.
The charges specified in the ruling include crimes against moral integrity and sexual offenses involving sexual contact, with distinctions made between acts of sexual transmission through different means and degrees of intent. The judgment frames the offenses in terms of attempted sexual contact and related violations, outlining the legal consequences for each count.
Complaint
The family of the minor with Asperger’s syndrome initially reported that their son had been raped by a person connected to the Mossos d’Esquadra in December 2018. The perpetrators were part of a group of third-year ESO students from the Colegio del Roser de Vallirana in Baix Llobregat, a school that the victim also attended during the period in question.
Families described ongoing harassment, insults, and threats directed at the child by fellow students. The mounting abuse eventually led the family to seek schooling elsewhere, as they found the school environment incompatible with their son’s safety and well-being.
During the October hearing, the victim did not testify in person because other evidence and testimony already established his presence and the circumstances of the case during the investigative phase. The prosecution had requested three years of imprisonment for each of the four defendants, while the private claims filed by the victim’s family sought four years of imprisonment in addition to the public charges.
As the proceedings unfolded, the court’s ruling underscores the seriousness of the offenses and the importance of ensuring appropriate accountability while considering the victim’s rights and ongoing protection needs. Legal authorities and observers noted the case as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by students with autism spectrum conditions within school communities and the imperative for safeguarding measures in educational settings.