A court in Spain handed down a sentence of seven and a half years in prison to a 31-year-old resident of Tordera, living in Palamós, for an attempted murder case that unfolded during the early days of the lockdown in June 2020. The incident involved a confrontation with his roommate, which escalated to a violent stabbing spree that left the victim with injuries across multiple areas of the body.
The public prosecution, at the April 4 hearing, requested a twelve-year prison term for the accused, aimed at a conviction for attempted degree murder. The defense, represented by attorney Carles Monguilod, argued the act should be treated as an injury offense and highlighted mitigating factors such as a change in mental state, cooperation with authorities, and efforts to repair the damage. The defendant had already sent 15,000 euros in compensation and sought a substantially shorter sentence of three and a half years in prison.
Ultimately, the third chamber portion of the court, with magistrate Manolo Marcello serving as rapporteur, rejected one of the requested extenuating circumstances but accepted the others, resulting in a total sentence of seven and a half years in prison, plus five years of probation. The court also imposed a restraining order preventing the accused from approaching within five hundred meters of the victim for a period of ten years.
In terms of civil liability, the court ordered the defendant to compensate the victim with 100,000 euros. It also mandated a payment of 54,604 euros to the Catalan Institute of Health to cover medical expenses arising from the assault and resulting treatment.
The court’s account of the events states that the incident occurred on June 10 in Palamós. The victim, a 34-year-old woman, alleged that the accused, Martí S., had disobeyed household rules and expressed an intention to go out. A confrontation ensued around 11:00 p.m., during which the accused allegedly warned the victim that if she left the apartment again, she would be reported to the police for a previous fine. In the ensuing exchange, the accused delivered a stabbing blow to the stomach.
The official records describe the attack as sudden and violent. The victim, unable to defend herself, was struck with a weapon described as a 2.5 centimeter wide and 8 centimeter long blade. The assailant reportedly concealed the weapon inside the sleeve of his shirt and repeatedly stabbed the victim in various regions. Witnesses recalled that the victim sustained numerous injuries, some of which were described as particularly painful and extensive.
Following the assault, the victim sought help on a landing outside the residence. The assailant then proceeded to the Mossos d’Esquadra police station in La Bisbal d’Empordà to confess the act. During the confession, he indicated where the weapon could be located and disclosed details about its disposal, including throwing the weapon from a balcony. The incident left a lasting impact on the victim and has been the subject of ongoing legal proceedings to determine liability and reparations for the harm caused.