Public, private, and widely reported accusations against Francisco Javier Almeida culminated in a prison sentence. Reviewable life imprisonment and a separate term for the sexual assault of a minor were central to the case in La Rioja. The charges and the court’s findings confirmed a grim and deliberate crime committed against a 9-year-old in a public setting, with actions that led to the child’s death during an assault in the park.
The La Rioja High Court of Justice (TSJ) reviewed the ruling following a trial in Logroño. The court upheld the sentence, including a life-term that can be reviewed in the future, and a 15-year term for the sexual assault of the boy who was playing nearby. Prosecutors stated that Almeida induced the child into his home, enabling the subsequent crime.
On Tuesday, during a session led by Javier Marca, president of the La Rioja TSJ, the parties participated and the convict attended after transfer from another facility to Logroño. Almeida, who had been under probation since April 2020, did not interrupt the proceedings.
At the appeal, Almeida’s defense maintained that treason had been misapplied, claiming that the offender had no intent to kill the minor and urging the principle of in dubio pro reo to be applied. The defense also argued that compensation for harm and certain extenuating circumstances should be considered, given his confession was not taken into account in the sentence.
The defense contended that if there had been intent to kill, the act would have occurred immediately. They argued that the child was found in the offender’s home, and that Almeida sought to repair the harm rather than prove himself a murderer.
intends to kill
The prosecutor and Álex’s family, supported by the Clara Campoamor Association, asserted that the extenuating circumstances presented were not supported by the trial record. They argued the crime was treacherous murder. Forensic experts and other evidence indicated a clear intent to kill, showing that after the sexual assault, the victim’s neck was forcibly restrained until death occurred.
The considered charges described the killing as deliberate and treacherous, occurring despite the victim’s lack of ability to seek help. The defense maintained that Almeida did not reveal any intent to cause harm and did not contact emergency services, instead attempting to conceal the body. He was later confronted by police as he left the residence.
Almeida had previously been on probation since April 2020 for the murder of a real estate agent in Logroño in 1998 and faced a 30-year term for sexual assault. Earlier, he had been sentenced to seven years for sexually assaulting a minor in 1993 in the capital of La Rioja.
same pain
Following the oral hearing, Alicia Redondo, representing the private and popular charges, told reporters she hoped the sentence would be upheld. She described the defense’s arguments as unsustainable and noted the emotional toll on Álex’s family who felt some statements minimized the severity of the crime. Testimony and evidence presented at the prosecution emphasized the defendant’s culpability.
The family of Álex expressed ongoing pain and a desire for closure. They stressed that the judicial process should conclude promptly and that Almeida should not benefit from further delays. The family and supporters affirmed their stance that justice be fully served and respected.
The La Rioja TSJ Civil and Criminal Division issued the sentence, which can be appealed in the Second Circuit of the Supreme Court. If the case is ultimately decided, the family and their advocates stated they would continue to pursue the matter within the applicable legal avenues.