A not guilty verdict was delivered for LFC, a 67-year-old resident of Manresa, near Barcelona. He stood accused of letting his ailing wife die by not providing adequate care. He faced a prosecution that sought thirteen years in prison for murder and an additional five years of probation. During the hearing, the defendant asserted that his wife had not wished doctors to visit her. Two witnesses aligned with this version of events.
The couple married in November 2008 and did not have any children. After ten years of life together, on December 15, 2018, a 57-year-old woman died at the hospital she was taken to, in Manresa. She had been admitted with septic shock caused by multiple infected ulcers. The medical details described a body marked by severe infections and ongoing neglect of personal hygiene. When the defendant visited the health center, he reported concerns about his wife’s health, noting the deterioration and the state of the home.
months in bed
The deceased woman had been confined to bed and largely immobile for more than three months due to respiratory and circulatory problems, with both partners facing significant health challenges. Prosecutors argued that the LFC showed persistent neglect, failing to provide the necessary level of care that such a vulnerable situation demanded. The defense maintained that the husband recognized her worsening condition and that his actions, or lack thereof, were framed by a difficult living arrangement rather than intent to harm. They argued that the prolonged period of caregiving and the home’s conditions were factors in the life and health of both.
During testimony, the defendant explained that his wife did not want visitors at home because of feelings of shame. He described the home as deteriorating, with hygiene issues and rooms that were poorly lit and sometimes leaking. He stated that he felt powerless as the home conditions worsened, and that his attempts to call for emergency services were met with resistance from his wife, who reproached him for what she perceived as betrayal if help arrived.