The case involving Angela Dobrowolski, initially scheduled to be heard this Thursday at Barcelona’s 19th Criminal Court, has been postponed for a set of procedural reasons. The prosecution had sought a nine-month prison sentence for Dobrowolski, alleging that she attacked her ex-husband within the shared residence in Barcelona in April 2019 and that the incident disrupted family life at a critical moment. The postponement came after the court acknowledged that the key witness, the victim, had not yet appeared to give testimony and after deliberations about how the proceedings should proceed. This delay was confirmed as the judge determined that the presence of Josep Maria Mainat, a former television producer and founder of La Trinca, was essential for the continuance of the hearing. The court indicated it would reconvene on a new date once those evidentiary requirements could be satisfied. The panel later noted that Mainat’s attendance was encouraged, and he was fined 500 euros for not having previously appeared. His team indicated no formal request for a statement had been issued and that any private prosecution had been withdrawn, leaving the matter to move forward under the court’s scheduling. Still, the decision to proceed or pause often hinges on the ability of the court to obtain a complete account from all involved parties and to establish whether the evidence supports a conviction beyond reasonable doubt. (Citation: Barcelona 19th Criminal Court)
Meanwhile, Dobrowolski herself did not appear at the hearing. The decision not to require her presence was grounded in the fact that she faced a potential sentence of less than two years, allowing for a trial in absentia should she still choose not to attend. This procedural choice reflects long-standing judicial norms that permit non-attendance when sentences are within certain thresholds, provided that the defendant is legally represented and the rights of the defense remain protected. (Citation: Catalan judicial protocol)
According to the prosecution, the dispute between Dobrowolski and her then-husband, the father of their children, erupted at the family home in Barcelona around Easter of 2019. The authorities allege that the altercation escalated to the extent that physical violence occurred, impairing the victim’s safety and sense of security in what had formerly been a shared domestic space. The narrative described by prosecutors includes Dobrowolski allegedly using a wooden box containing various substances and a heavy object, and then striking with a pillow in a manner that was intended to harm. The filing notes that the altercation had a tangible impact on the personal safety of the complainant, who reported feeling threatened and harmed in the course of the incident. (Citation: Court records, Easter 2019 incident)
As the confrontation progressed, the victim reportedly sought shelter in the kitchen. The defendant followed and allegedly inflicted harm using a glass jar found on the counter, resulting in a cut or injury to the forehead. Prosecutors charge Dobrowolski with assault within a domestic setting, emphasizing the domestic context of the alleged attack and the perceived vulnerability of the victim. Mainat, who did not seek compensation for the events, remains a central figure because his testimony or involvement in the proceedings could influence the assessment of intent and the sequence of actions during the incident. (Citation: Domestic assault charges, Barcelona)