The Supreme Court of Justice of the Valencian Community, known as TSJCV, upheld the original ruling issued by Castellon County Court that sentenced a resident of Moncofa to ten years in prison for the deliberate murder of a minor from Villarreal. Authorities concluded that the young man faced harassment, threats through text messages and social apps, which culminated in the victim taking his own life more than six years ago. The case drew extensive media attention before the verdict, with public sentiment leaning toward a guilty plea by the defendant in the July hearing.
In a detailed judgment spanning more than fifty pages, the TSJCV rejected the defendant Vicente Paradís’s appeal seeking acquittal. The court also dismissed the appeal from the special prosecutor’s office, which had requested that the aggravating factors associated with the harm to the deceased youth be considered for a higher penalty, in the upper half of the range. The family of the deceased had requested a 15-year sentence during the trial.
After reviewing the evidence, the panel was persuaded that the appellant was aware of the emotional harm caused by his actions toward the victim. The court emphasized that the evidence supported a finding of willful manslaughter, reframing liability in line with the doctrine of objective attribution, and determining that there was no basis to alter the terms of responsibility.
119 messages in three hours
The judgment notes that Paradís appeared in conversation with the minor and in other evidentiary materials, showing a pattern of threatening behavior beyond reasonable doubt. The defendant sent or dictated 119 messages over almost three hours, pleading with the young man to stop and asserting intentions to take his own life at least ten times. This conduct created a dangerous situation for the minor, and the prolonged threat was deemed to have contributed to the fatal outcome, which the court found could not be legally excused.
Consequently, the TSJCV affirmed the Court’s finding that the accused bore responsibility for the willful death of the minor. The main evidence cited was the recovery of all messages from the deceased’s mobile device, which was handled in accordance with proper custody procedures. The messages include phrases such as a declaration of love with ominous reminders of consequences, questions about possible blackmail, and threats of punishment should the victim fail to comply. Other alarming statements warned of grief in front of judges and parents, reinforcing the danger posed by the defendant’s actions.
family compensation
Beyond the prison term, Paradís, who remains at large due to the ongoing proceedings, was ordered to compensate the family of the deceased youth with 146,000 euros. The brother of the deceased was also named as a liable party with an additional 27,000 euros to be covered. The parents testified at the hearing with visible emotion, describing the events in the courtroom as horrifying. Following the verdict announced last July, they expressed hope that justice had been served and that their son would rest in peace.
The TSJCV decision remains open to appeal at the Supreme Court level, preserving the possibility of further appellate review in higher courts.