César Román, known as the King of the Cachopo, has publicly acknowledged in a letter to the Madrid Provincial Court that he killed Heidi Paz in 2018. He was convicted for that homicide and now says he regrets his actions and asks for forgiveness.
His lawyer, Ana Isabel Peña, clarified that the letter dates to March and describes a moment of desperation when Román admitted being the author, though she notes he did not. The defense intends to appeal the conviction at international levels.
Earlier this week the Telecinco program Vamos a ver reported that Román sent a handwritten letter to the Madrid Provincial Court asserting he was the culprit for the crime. The letter marks a departure from his prior stance of denying involvement during both the trial and the subsequent appeal of the 15 year prison sentence for the homicide.
In the text, Román writes, “I inform the Madrid Provincial Court of my recognition of the crime, my remorse, and I ask forgiveness from the victim’s family.”
He adds, “After a deep and intimate reflection, I come to express recognition of the crime and the sentence I received, wanting to make clear my total and sincere remorse for it.”
Román indicates that if the Heidi Paz family agrees, he would be willing to give a statement before the judge and the family so they can finally have closure and understand what happened. He expresses a desire to end the case and not appeal the sentence through international judicial channels.
Third Degree
The lawyer Ana Isabel Peña told EFE that Román drafted the letter during a period when her client was ill and overwhelmed by five years in prison with no parole. After they spoke, both sides decided to continue appealing through European authorities because they do not consider him guilty.
Meanwhile, the family lawyer Alexis Socías stated that, with limited access to the letter, what has been disclosed appears to be a transcript of the requirements for requesting third degree under penitentiary rules, which Román would be eligible for after five years of confinement.
Socías explained that those requirements include an admission of the facts, asking for forgiveness, and demonstrating a new way of life. He urged Román to specify how the crime was committed and where any missing body parts are located, since there is a remote possibility of reexamination for murder, though that would be highly unlikely.
The Madrid Provincial Court sentenced Román in 2021 to 15 years in prison for the homicide of Heidi Paz and for dismembering the body, with aggravating factors of kinship and gender. He was also sentenced to 15 years of supervised freedom following the prison term and ordered to pay damages to Heidi Paz’s children, 142,229 euros to each, and 100,000 euros to her mother.
Román appealed, but the Madrid High Court confirmed the conviction in 2022, a ruling later upheld by the Supreme Court.
The case has drawn ongoing attention as it unfolds, with new statements likely to influence the public perception of the events surrounding Heidi Paz’s death and the ongoing legal proceedings.