One of the most watched moments in the Barcelona courtroom unfolded as the trial of Alba Andreu continued, accused of urging a friend, Ismael Molina, to murder his father at the family home in Vilanova i la Geltrú on June 8, 2019. Arnau S., Alba’s former partner who says he faced abuse, threats, and a supposed fictitious conspiracy complete with imaginary figures like Ismael’s virtual girlfriend Julia, testified before a popular jury. He recalled the pressure and the sense of being erased as a person, stating that whenever he answered a question, he felt compelled to be careful and cautious.
From Arnau’s account, Alba appeared differently on the stand than she did in casual daily interactions. He testified that while the AlbA he knew existed in some form, the version presented on screen turned out to be a fabrication, a manipulative and controlling image. Arnau insisted that despite Alba’s claims, he believed the other persona was real, a perception he says he tried to warn Ismael about, even though he claimed to have evidence. He noted that his relationship with Alba had ended about a month before Ismael, described as paranoid and struggling with mental health, killed his father with a knife. The testimony drew a stark contrast between the friend who spoke in private and the persona observed publicly in court.
Arnau told the court that the breakup left him with lingering depression and that Alba had lied, including a claim of pregnancy. He emphasized that he reached a point where he could not discern the truth from the stories Alba had told him. When asked whether the same situation could repeat with Ismael, a longtime friend, Arnau suggested it might, noting the vulnerability created by isolation and a long period of dependence on the partner. Prosecutors argued that Alba sought financial gain from Ismael’s family through the crime. .
fear of being blamed
The witness admitted to memory gaps about several moments during the investigative phase and often contradicted himself when asked whether Alba had told Ismael to kill his father. He said a fear of being blamed kept him silent initially, and he worried that he might be blamed for actions he hadn’t taken. He described feeling afraid of how his words might be interpreted by authorities and the implications for his own innocence. He claimed he did nothing to aid the alleged plan and faced accusations of complicity without any basis for it. .
Arnau also reported that Alba claimed in his presence, and in Ismael’s, that Ismael’s father had abused Alba’s mother. A separate witness testified that Alba had never harmed her or her children. Ismael’s mother recounted that her son spoke of a group he was tracking, but she did not hear any further specifics. She suggested Ismael might have believed in something dangerous, perhaps a cult, especially as he began requesting money. The case also involves transfers from Ismael’s parents’ bank accounts to Alba, with the mother believing the funds would cover her son’s education, unaware of the destination or purpose of the payments. .