National Police investigations and the Court of First Instance No. 3 in Gandia led to the arrest of a couple suspected of masterminding the murder of a 60-year-old man who was found dead after being beaten and burned in a Gandia home in February 2023. But what lay behind this killing? According to information obtained by Levante-EMV, while only the alleged perpetrators truly know the motive, which is not a question for a trial to resolve, the victim reportedly carried on sporadic and paid sexual relations with the woman detained, who was also the partner of the other inmate.
Beyond this alleged non-romantic triangle, the defendant stated in court that the sexagenarian wanted to use her as a mule to transport drugs from abroad, a plan that her partner did not approve of because she was pregnant. If they decided to end his life, as the Prosecutor contends, for one reason or another —or for both—, or if it was a fight and a non-premeditated death, a jury will determine the truth.
The Public Prosecutor asks for sentences totaling 26 years for each of the accused, Manuel H. M., 51, and Jessica O. V., 37. Specifically, fourteen years are requested for homicide with the aggravating factor of abuse of power, seven years for arson with risk to people due to setting fire to the sofa where the corpse lay, knowing the danger posed to neighboring residents, and five more years for robbery with violence in a inhabited home, after the suspects took two rings and the deceased man’s mobile phone.
With a kitchen axe
The events unfolded on the morning of February 9, 2023, when, according to the prosecutor, the two defendants went to the home of Javier, a 60-year-old man, on Benicanena Street in Gandia. The defendant denies being there and claims to have been at home with his mother, though direct evidence implicates him, including DNA found on a kitchen axe along with another blunt object that has not been identified. The sale of the victim’s mobile phone is also cited as evidence.
As described in the indictment, the couple acted together with the intent to end the man’s life or, at least, to accept the possibility of such a result. They struck him on the head with the kitchen axe and with another blunt instrument until his death occurred through the destruction of vital neural centers.
The pregnant woman states that she would have been used as a mule to transport drugs
In an attempt to hinder investigators and erase evidence, the defendants set fire to the sofa where the body lay and fled the property. Firefighters responded swiftly, bringing the blaze under control and preventing additional victims from smoke and flames.
In civil liability matters, the Prosecutor seeks joint compensation of 20,000 euros for each of the deceased’s two sisters and 2,553 euros for the home insurer to cover damages caused by the fire.