The president of Murcia Instruction Court No. 3 continues to hear testimony from those investigated in the Atalayas case, with the day’s session focusing on Daniel R., who runs the Fonda venue linked to the Teatre nightclub where thirteen lives were lost. The proceedings took place at the City of Justice, where the judge, the Prosecution, and counsel for the defense pursued clarifications and facts behind the tragedy.
Daniel R. appeared before the instructor, answering questions posed by the judge, the Prosecutor’s Office, and his defense team formed by lawyers Francisco Adán and Javier Verdú. He was notably the only defendant who chose to testify to National Police investigators, while the others exercised their right to silence. In his statements to the police, he claimed that the room’s administrative situation was in order, a point he reaffirmed in court on Tuesday.
During his testimony, the owner of Fonda argued that he did not have enough time to implement an emergency plan on the morning of the disaster, because he did not receive any warning about the fire. He maintained that the fire did not originate in the workplace and suggested that if a warning had arrived mere minutes earlier, thirteen lives could have been saved. His account underscored the importance of timely alarm systems in preventing loss of life in crowded venues.
Another aspect raised in the testimony concerned financial arrangements connected to the venue. Daniel R. stated that the rent for the room was paid to businessman Marco Martínez, who last week denied ownership of Teatre. He also indicated that club expenses were paid to Eva Martínez, the manager of the nightclub and Marco Martínez’s sister, covering utility costs such as electricity and water. These disclosures point to a network of actors with ties to Teatre and its operations.
The council knew this
The Fonda representative emphasized the existence of a file within the records, noting that City Planning had been aware of the room since 2019. This casts doubt on claims of secrecy and suggests that regulatory oversight was in place long before the incident. The assertion implies ongoing awareness of the venue’s regulatory status by municipal authorities.
Daniel R. confirmed ongoing connections between Marco Martínez and Teatre. In response to questions from journalists, Martínez had previously stated that Manuel Cerezo remains the theater owner. Cerezo is reported to own the warehouse facilities and, at the time of the disclosure, rented them to Marco Martínez without facing any charges. This sequence of statements reinforces questions about ownership and responsibility in the venue’s operational model.
Fonda Milagros, pictured the night of the tragedy, has become a focal point in the case as investigators and observers piece together the sequence of events that led to the calamity. The public attention surrounding the case underscores the need for clear accountability among those managing and operating nightlife venues with risk factors that can escalate during emergencies.
Francisco Adán, representing part of the defense, highlighted what he called technical shortcomings in the architectural planning behind Teatre. He noted that the current Teatre project, dated 2017, seems paired with a later 2019 revision that remains largely the same. He asserted that the building and the venue were not prepared to address fires effectively, and that the structures and safety measures were not modified in a meaningful way. The defense suggested that Daniel R. did not alter practices and that Fonda’s operations mirrored the architectural project that had guided the venue’s design, with Marco Martínez reportedly involved in the construction era of the project as the party responsible for building work.