Victims report they were forced onto motorcycles and taken to an abandoned house. In Murcia, the individuals described as attackers confirm the events involved consensual sex. Three minors were arrested and a criminal complaint was filed with the Murcia Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office on Friday. Police and judicial sources say two girls, aged 14 and 15, were raped. The case has led the President of Juvenile Court No. 1 in Murcia to place three teenagers, aged 14, 15, and 17, with records of violence and robbery, in juvenile centers under a closed detention regime after transfer from the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor.
The alleged events occurred Thursday afternoon in a ruined house located in an orchard area near the Joven Futura urbanization. The assault reportedly took place there after the victims were placed on motorcycles and taken to the abandoned building beside a horse riding facility. Three men allegedly sexually assaulted the victims after they refused to have sex, the victims later telling their families and the police. The girls were able to escape the venue and returned home, where relatives contacted emergency services.
Similarities to the Burjassot group attack
From the appearance of the site, both cases involved underage victims. The Espinardo incident on Thursday shows parallels with a group attack reported in mid-May in Burjassot, a town in the neighboring Valencian Community. The proceedings in this case are being followed closely by authorities as the minor defendants are processed.
The judge will review the cases on July 7. One of the girls’ lawyers seeks release for three of the six detainees who are currently on probation and requests that three more who are not in custody be included, with possible participation yet to be established.
The case is being handled by the Minors Group. Murcia Police investigators visited Espinardo to collect statements from the girls in their home and then from the ruins where the alleged attack occurred. In a short time, investigators moved to detain the three suspects.
Tension in the courts
On Friday morning, Juvenile Prosecutor José Antonio Ródenas questioned the three teenagers at the Justice City office, while relatives of the suspects reacted violently in the courtroom. Some individuals directed abusive remarks toward the girls who were assaulted, and several were asked to leave the courtroom for disruptive behavior.
The building where the incident occurred was photographed on Thursday, shortly after the complaint was filed.
Minors were represented by lawyer José Maria Caballero, while the girls were aided by lawyer Fermín Guerrero. One attacker resided in Molina de Segura, and the other two in Espinardo, the Murcian town where the incident took place. According to a report in La Opinión, all three told investigators that sexual contact with the girls was not forced and that it occurred with mutual agreement. The girls say they can present additional information, which will be clarified as the investigation continues.
As for the girls, they have not yet been called to testify; the judge is expected to summon them in the coming days. After the incident, the two friends were taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries, which were not considered serious. Medical reports also indicate that an assault occurred. Relatives described the girls as emotionally distressed following the events.
Labeling and detention
Ródenas requested detention in a closed regime for the three suspects. The juvenile judge granted the request, deciding that the confinement should take place in a closed center due to concerns about public safety and the protection of the victims. The court cited the sexual offenses, aggravated by threats and the use of violence, as well as potential intimidation through group dynamics.
Two of the suspects will be held in a center called Bramble and the third in Mulberry trees, with the expectation of special surveillance and access to psychological support. The aim is to ensure safety for the community and for the victims while allowing for ongoing interventions and protection. Authorities emphasize the seriousness of the crimes under investigation, which include sexual assault, illegal detention, injuries, and threats.
Forensic assessments note factors such as poor school performance, unsupervised leisure activities, and a lack of respect for authority among the accused. The decision to impose closed detention reflects concerns about preventing reoffending and protecting the victims and the broader public during the investigation and potential prosecution.