A 49-year-old man was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to having non-consensual sexual relations with his ex-partner when she was unconscious, having been drugged by him. The defendant, a native of Ecuador living in Totana, Murcia, will not serve time in prison as long as he avoids committing another crime over the next five years. He must compensate the victim with 8,000 euros in installments and participate in a program focused on equal treatment and sexual education.
According to the ruling from the Third Section of the Provincial Court of Murcia, which has been examined by this publication, the case was judged and the sentence issued in 2024, despite the events taking place before the COVID-19 pandemic. The facts, as detailed in the proven facts, were acknowledged by the individual when he later admitted them during the proceedings. The woman had called him a week after their breakup to request the return of money he owed her, and he urged her to come to his home, which she did.
Antidepressants in the drink
Around two in the afternoon, during a meal prepared by a fast-food establishment for the man, he poured a quantity of amitriptyline into the woman’s glass. This prevented her from perceiving danger, and under this influence he engaged in sexual relations with her, including vaginal intercourse, the ruling notes.
The woman woke up around eight in the evening, disoriented and with no memory of what had occurred. The court report adds that chemical analyses showed the presence of amitriptyline, an antidepressant, at therapeutic doses in the blood and urine. The substance can cause drowsiness, lethargy, and impaired concentration, all of which were observed in the victim.
On the cusp of prison time
Biology reports confirm the presence of the subject’s genetic profile in samples taken from the victim’s vaginal area. The man was convicted of sexual abuse with carnal access, with mitigating factors including damage repair, delays in proceedings, and his admission of the facts. He is barred from approaching within 200 meters of the victim and from contacting her by any means for five years. If he commits another offense before 2029, he will go to prison. The sentence is final.
Source: La Opinión, with details drawn from the provincial court’s decision.