The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the High Court of Justice of Catalonia regarding a Barcelona case that involves the severe abuse of a minor. The defendant was condemned to a life sentence for a brutal murder following a sexual assault on a child under thirteen, a crime that occurred in Vilanova i la Geltrú on June 4, 2018. The facts describe how the accused lured the victim from her grandparents’ home, took her against her will, attacked her with a knife, and forcibly restrained her by placing a collar around her neck and gripping her throat with both hands until the child stopped breathing.
The lower court had sentenced the man to seven years in prison for the sexual assault, applying a mitigating factor for reparations. For the accompanying murder, the court imposed a re-examinable permanent prison sentence with the same mitigating factor. The ruling notes that the sum paid as compensation could not adequately repair the grave harm caused. Consequently, the court did not apply the mitigating factor to the murder sentence and recognized that the crime should be treated as a permanent sentence open to review. The panel described the acts as acts of betrayal, cruelty, and violence against a minor, emphasizing the severity of the offense.
The central question highlighted by the Supreme Court concerns how the perpetrator managed to seize and kill the girl with no meaningful chance for defense. The record shows a stark imbalance in size, with the victim weighing relatively little and the defendant substantially heavier and taller. The perpetrator reportedly used a knife, inflicting multiple injuries on the minor. The jury concluded that the victim’s ability to defend herself was severely diminished, which amplified the perceived brutality of the crime.
aimless cruel evil
The Supreme Court notes that the girl’s father was at his grandparents’ home and went downstairs to greet his child when he encountered the appellant. The description portrays the perpetrator’s cruel conduct as he escorted the girl into the apartment where she would be sexually assaulted, leading to her death and leaving a wide circle of relatives in shock over the loss. The court considers the death not to be an accident or illness but the result of deviant behavior that culminated in the girl’s demise. The court asserts that the acts were premeditated and executed with the intent to harm, reflecting a high degree of criminal responsibility.
The Supreme Court confirms the assessment by the Catalan court regarding how the girl’s life was terminated. The acts are described as cruel because the method chosen caused prolonged pain while the victim was fully aware of what was happening. The decision emphasizes bruises, abrasions, and stab wounds as evidence of cruelty. It also notes that the actions went beyond what is necessary to achieve the crime and aimed to inflict additional suffering on the victim. The phrase aimless cruel evil is used to capture the depth of the defendant’s conduct and its impact on those connected to the victim.