In Igualada, a young man endured a harrowing breach of safety as the new dawn broke on November 1. The capital of Anoia saw the court convene, and the judge indicated that the truth would be pursued. The proceedings moved forward telematically, with the accused seated in a separate space while the judge and other parties observed remotely. The aggressor could not see the victim, only hear his voice, and witnesses noted a measured, almost indifferent posture from him throughout the session.
The victim’s expression remained brief. She did not remember the events clearly, and there was no opportunity for additional questioning to gather further evidence at that moment. The Mossos d’Esquadra officers, joined by psychologists and investigators from the Sexual Assaults Center Unit UCAS, answered the judge’s questions via the professionals who interpreted them for the victim. In essence, the judge asked questions over the phone, and the psychologists conveyed them to the survivor. This approach underscores the judicial system’s ongoing effort to minimize re-victimization while ensuring the victim’s testimony informs the case. The procedures emphasize that a statement should not be pre-constructed as evidence and that testimony should be considered in its proper context. Consequently, the rape suspect attended the session in the room with his lawyer on Tuesday.
Panic
Although she does not recall the exact events and attributes her memory lapse to a power outage lasting about a week after leaving the Epic nightclub in Igualada, the young woman is adamant about one thing: she knows she has endured trauma because others told her so. Since that time, she has endured persistent headaches that feel like holes within her skull, a sensation particularly pronounced each time she revisits the case. She described a sense of panic that accompanies leaving her home.
The attacker delivered a violent blow to the victim’s head, leaving her unconscious. The sight was later described by a truck driver who found her after the assault. This traumatic impact did not deter Mossos d’Esquadra from gathering substantial evidence against the offender, including DNA, while the survivor continues to grapple with the horror in her memory. Yet the evidence collection has also helped piece together the sequence of events and support the woman through her recovery.
Representing the entertainment venue and Epic nightclub through attorney Joaquim Boadas, Fecasarm stated it would request a prison term of up to 26 years for rape and attempted murder. Boadas, who also argued for the case to become a turning point in addressing violence against women at parties, asserted that the goal is not to allow the perpetrator back onto the streets. He called for greater police presence around clubs, improved public disclosure, and an awareness campaign to prevent future incidents. This stance reflects a broader effort to ensure safer environments for partygoers while reinforcing accountability for criminal actions.