The caregiver of a 94-year-old resident at Palma’s Bonanova facility faced charges in a hearing held yesterday in the First Division of the Audiencia de Palma. The defendant, who is accused of sexual abuse, described his actions as influenced by heavy consumption of beer and marijuana prior to work that morning. The prosecutor requested a seven-year prison sentence for the alleged crime.
The trial concerned events that occurred in the afternoon of 31 August 2019 at the La Bonanova nursing home, which is affiliated with the Institut Mallorquí d’Afers Socials (IMAS) in Consell de Mallorca. The caretaker, then 27 years old, attended to a 94-year-old woman who was bedridden and suffering from dementia at the time.
According to the prosecutor, the accused unfastened the elderly woman’s diaper under the pretext of performing daily hygiene tasks. He then lowered his trousers and engaged in sexual activity with the resident. A coworker entering the room witnessed the scene and urged him to refrain from reporting it immediately.
Following the incident, staff alerted those responsible at the center, and the matter was reported to the prosecutor’s office. The National Police continued the investigation, and the caregiver remained in temporary detention from 7 September 2019 to 8 June 2020.
During the hearing, the defendant offered a vague response when asked whether he had sexually engaged with the elderly woman under his care. He stated, “I don’t remember, but probably yes,” and he added that he only masturbated when he was with the elderly woman.
In defense questions, the defendant claimed to have been suffering from a severe depressive episode at the time and to have used marijuana and alcohol heavily. He indicated that after arriving home, he took pills that were described as anxiolytics, mentioning a possible link to his state of mind.
Several witnesses testified, including a nurse who indicated that the accused harassed the elderly woman in her room. The witness described the scene as the man lying on his side with his diaper in place, his pants lowered, and moving in a way that suggested sexual activity with penetration.
After the central administration learned of the incident, a medical examination of the victim was conducted by a doctor, and later, a nurse collected vaginal samples. Tests reportedly showed traces of sperm.
“I’m out of control”
Another individual who testified was the defendant’s father, who described his son as being out of control at the time. He also noted that his son had been close to considering harming himself and expressed concern that he should be placed in either hospital or prison to prevent further harm.
This Tuesday the prosecutor reduced the initial request from ten years to seven years in prison, recognizing a mitigating factor in the case. The admission of the incident and related circumstances formed part of the consideration for this adjustment. The defense sought alternative sentences of one year, nine months and three and a half years. The proceedings concluded with the defendant offering an apology to the family involved, marking his final statement in the hearing.