In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court affirmed a lengthy prison sentence for a man found guilty in a 2017 case that shocked a Madrid suburb. He was convicted of beating and stabbing his 22-year-old ex-partner, later mutilating her and placing her remains in a freezer in a residence in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid. The remains were discovered in 2019, bringing the case to a close before higher courts.
The Supreme Court rejected all grounds of appeal raised by the defendant. The Madrid High Court of Justice had previously upheld the decision of the Madrid Provincial Court after a jury trial, consolidating the verdict that made the sentence final.
As a result, the defendant received a 25-year term for manslaughter with aggravating circumstances tied to gender-based and familial factors, plus an additional five months for desecration of a corpse.
Additionally, he was ordered to pay a 300-euro fine for fraud committed using the victim’s payment card. He faced charges for attempting to purchase tobacco with the victim’s funds after her death, attempted on a separate occasion as well.
The Court of Cassation, in its ruling, confirmed the facts shown in the historical record. The events occurred on October 6, 2017, within the couple’s rented room in Alcalá de Henares, establishing the backdrop for the legal proceedings.
According to the sentence, the accused struck the woman’s arm and delivered a harsh blow to her face, followed by two stab wounds to the back, actions that led to her death.
The court also noted that the body was then concealed and robbed within days of death, with the victim’s remains dismembered into seven parts and stored in a freezer chest.
A misleading message, crafted to misinform the owner of the house, his employer, and friends, was sent via WhatsApp the day after the discovery of the mutilated body. The arrest occurred in Alcalá de Henares the day after the grisly discovery on February 8, 2019.
The Court of Cassation, guided by the rapporteur Judge Julian Sanchez Melgar, rejected the defense argument that the aggravating factor of treason or domestic life should not apply to raise the charge from homicide to murder. The court concluded that the defendant’s actions showed treacherous conduct, establishing the basis for the enhanced sentence.